Hungary agreed today to bring its disputed new media law in line with European Union requirements within two weeks, ending a row with Brussels that cast a pall over its EU presidency.
The government's pledge ends weeks of controversy that has engulfed Hungary's presidency of the 27-member bloc since January 1st, culminating in the European Commission threatening Hungary with legal action unless it changed the law.
EU diplomats expressed concern that the row could hamper Budapest's ability to build consensus among EU governments on difficult issues such as economic governance during the six months it chairs over EU policy debates.
The Commission was primarily concerned about Hungarian broadcast regulations affecting foreign companies operating in Hungary, as well as curbs on freedom of expression and the inclusion of bloggers in the rules.
Hungary wanted to require all broadcasters to provide "balanced" news coverage and register with a state authority. The law also proposed fines for any broadcasters, newspapers or websites whose reporting violated "human dignity".
State secretary Zoltan Kovacs told a news conference today that after talks with the EU Commission Hungary had decided to amend contentious passages in the legislation.
"Today the final version of the text was born, which ... in the assessment of both the Hungarian government and the (EU) Commission, will reassuringly address every point raised by (Commissioner) Neelie Kroes in January," Mr Kovacs said.
EU telecoms chief Neelie Kroes said the proposed changes had satisfied EU concerns, but said the Commission would monitor how Budapest implemented the changes closely.
"We will continue to work to ensure agreed changes are incorporated into Hungarian law and (the) revised law is consistently applied in practice," Ms Kroes said in a statement.
Mr Kovacs said Hungary decided to withdraw a provision requiring balanced coverage for on-demand audiovisual media service providers, fines would no longer apply to media companies based abroad and prior registration would not be a prerequisite for on-demand media to start operating.
Hungary also backed down from its earlier demand that other EU member states change similar provisions in their laws if the Commission demanded changes to the Hungarian legislation.
Hungary's government would submit amendments to the media law to parliament within two weeks, Mr Kovacs said.
Reuters