Hungarian media authority: EU media freedom law’s detailed rules should be natl competency

Hungary’s National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) supports the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) only if creating the detailed rules will remain in the hands of nation states, the authority said on Tuesday.

The European Commission is planning to draft comprehensive regulations on the operation of the media in inner markets. According to current plans, EMFA would pertain to TV, radio, print and online press as well as, in certain instances, online platforms, NMHH said in a statement.

The legislation is in its consulting phase, concrete legislation is yet to be drafted, the statement said.

The NMHH agrees with the principle that freedom of opinion is a pillar of democratic debate, and a multifaceted and free media is key to all democracies, it said.

At the same time, as regards the open consultation about the regulation, the NMHH said the legal basis and scope of the planned regulation gave cause for concern.

“EU jurisdiction in media regulation cannot be expanded limitlessly without harming national competencies,”

which could lead to the regulation infringing on the nation’s sovereignty and right to national legislation, the authority said.

Traditions and discrepancies in the member states’ judicial systems and media markets can lead to substantial differences in the media and press landscape, NMHH said.

Strengthening and funding EU players in the sector should be “done very carefully, rather than by a blanket regulation,” they said, “especially when it comes to the issues of balanced information, public media, state advertisements and regulations regarding entering the market,” they said.

EU regulations may play a role in cross-border services, the authority said.

As we wrote yesterday, OSCE raises several objections to the 2022 elections in Hungary. They said:

Hungary’s media is sharply divided in an increasingly concentrated market.

Ahead of the elections, biased and unbalanced news coverage permeated the public and many private media outlets, mostly to the benefit of the ruling party. Voters’ ability to make an informed choice was limited by this as well as by the absence of debate between the main contestants. Read more details HERE.