At a conference on media regulation and press freedom, held by the Institute for Media Studies and the relevant body of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, experts concluded that Hungarian media regulation is in line with that of other EU member states.

Member of the Media Council András Koltay informed the audience about a recent spring ruling by the Constitutional Court which, similarly to European practices, states that freedom of expression cannot be non-restrictable when it is aimed at violating human dignity.

Annamária Mayer from the Ministry of Justice underlined the necessity of the protection of journalists’ sources, a prerequisite of the freedom of expression and a necessary element of democracies, as also set down in international documents. According to an amendment to the Hungarian Media Act, journalists are not required to identify sources; this can only be justified during the course of criminal proceedings, if the necessary information cannot be obtained in any other way.

Tamás Szikora of the Media Council explained that the requirement of balanced coverage has been part of Hungarian law since 1996. However, as a result of dialogue with the European Council, it is indeed only the requirement of balanced coverage that is included in legislation, and further “modifiers” such as assuring diverse, up-to-date, factual or objective coverage have been removed from the text.

A legal consultant from the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), Kinga Géczi stated that media-related infringements are not homogeneous and neither are sanctions. She underlined that the Hungarian sanctions system is in harmony with EU standards and the legislation of other European countries.

(MTI)