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VIENNA, 4 June 2025 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Jan Braathu, has concluded his first official visit to Hungary, where he met with senior government officials, media regulators, journalists, and civil society representatives. His visit included a keynote address at the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) General Meeting in Budapest.
“Independent, ethical journalism is the cornerstone of democratic societies,” Braathu stated. “In today’s complex and polarized information environment, access to trustworthy, fact-based news has never been more vital.”
During his visit, Braathu held meetings with Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation; Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communication and Relations; Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy and Energy Security; and other senior officials from Hungary’s media oversight bodies, including the National Media and Infocommunications Authority and public service broadcaster MTVA.
A key focus of discussions was Hungary’s proposed legislation titled On the Transparency of Public Life. While the bill is framed as a safeguard for national sovereignty and constitutional identity, Braathu expressed serious concern over its potential negative impact on media pluralism and independent journalism.
“Our legal review of the draft legislation, based on the OSCE’s tripartite test, found that while the bill’s objectives may be legitimate, its vague language and overly broad scope fail to meet international standards of legality, necessity, and proportionality,” he said. “I encourage lawmakers to revise the proposal to better align with OSCE media freedom commitments.”
Braathu also underscored the importance of political independence for both public service broadcasters and media regulators, and called for greater transparency and fairness in the allocation of state advertising—an issue central to ensuring equal access to resources for independent media outlets.
Referencing Article 9 of Hungary’s Fundamental Law, which guarantees press freedom and media diversity, Braathu stressed the importance of aligning legislation and media governance practices with constitutional principles and international obligations.
In his meetings and public engagements, Braathu reiterated the OSCE’s readiness to support Hungary in fostering an open, diverse, and resilient media landscape.
“As OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, I stand ready to assist Hungarian authorities at all levels in advancing reforms that strengthen media freedom and uphold the shared commitments of all 57 OSCE participating States,” he said.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media monitors media freedom across the OSCE region, provides early warnings of violations, and works with governments to support compliance with OSCE standards on freedom of expression and press independence.
For more information, visit: www.osce.org/fom
Follow updates on Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM
And on Facebook: facebook.com/osce.rfom
