Europe criticises Hungary’s media watchdog

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland was in Budapest on the 21 March 2012 for talks with the Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán. The Secretary General also met with Tibor Navracsics, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration and Justice, and with János Martonyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The talks focused primarily on the Venice Commission reports of March 2012 on the independence of the judiciary and religious freedom, and the Council of Europe assessment of media freedom in Hungary.

ESO: Background information: The Hungarian Media Environment http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-the-hungarian-media-environment/

ESO: Background information: Orban accused of destroying rule of law / Hungary dismisses concerns over new constitution http://www.europeansources.info/record/orban-accused-of-destroying-rule-of-law-hungary-dismisses-concerns-over-new-constitution/

Website: National Media and Infocommunication Authority (NMHH) http://www.nmhh.hu/index.php?lang=en

NMHH: Hungary's new media regulation http://www.mediatanacs.hu/uploads/9/12/1321457199hungary_new_media_regulation_eng_web.pdf

ESO: Background information: Right to fair trial at risk in Hungary, study find http://www.europeansources.info/record/right-to-fair-trial-at-risk-in-hungary-study-finds/

Council of Europe: Press Release, 20.3.12: Secretary General meets Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest http://www.coe.int/en/web/coe-portal/press/newsroom?p_p_id=newsroom&_newsroom_articleId=882893&_newsroom_groupId=10226&_newsroom_tabs=newsroom-topnews&pager.offset=0

Council of Europe: Hungary and the Council of Europe http://www.coe.int/web/coe-portal/country/hungary?dynLink=true&layoutId=146&dlgroupId=10226&fromArticleId=

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