Hungary Failed to Resolve Media Concerns, EU’s Kroes Says

Hungary has failed to resolve concerns about media freedom as the government has implemented “only a fraction” of the recommendations to deal with the issue, according to European Union Commissioner Neelie Kroes.

“Issues of media freedom are not yet solved; only a fraction of the Council of Europe recommendations have been implemented,” Kroes said of Hungary in the text of a speech to be delivered today in Dublin. The award of a frequency to opposition radio Klubradio this month after a series of lawsuits was “welcome,” Kroes said.

The EU needs to increase its focus on protecting “fundamental freedoms” such as media pluralism in the bloc, said Kroes, who is in charge of the digital agenda at the EU executive. The EU wants to strengthen the independence of media regulators from government influence, she said.

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