[HU] Infringement procedure against Hungary for failing to comply with EMFA and AVMSD

IRIS 2026-1:1/3

Bálint Barki

The European Commission has opened an infringement procedure against Hungary for failure to comply with certain provisions of the European Media Freedom Act and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.

According to the Commission, Hungary does not comply with provisions concerning interference in the work of journalists and media outlets in Hungary, including restrictions on their economic activities and editorial freedom. The Commission also states that Hungarian law does not provide adequate protection for the preservation of journalistic sources and confidential communications, nor sufficient judicial protection in the event of a breach of these rights. In addition, Hungary fails to comply with the EMFA’s provisions on public service media, the assessment of media market concentrations and the allocation of state advertising.

The issue of non-compliance with the provisions listed above had already been raised when the EMFA took effect, as highlighted, for example, in a report by Mérték Media Monitoring.

The Commission also considers that Hungary is in breach of certain provisions of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive relating to the independence of the national media regulator. Its Rule of Law Report has highlighted the Hungarian Media Council's lack of political independence every year, but the Commission has yet to take any legal action to protect it.