CPJ calls on EU to support press freedom reform in Hungary 

Brussels, June 11, 2026—Ahead of a meeting with Hungarian officials on June 16, the Committee to Protect Journalists urges European Union member states to encourage Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s new government to rebuild the national media landscape by fully aligning future reforms with EU law and recommendations. 

Magyar’s Tisza party won April elections, ousting Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party after 16 years in power, and the new government has committed to rule-of-law reforms required by Brussels to unblock frozen EU funds.

Strengthening media freedom and pluralism in Hungary must now also be prioritized, CPJ said.

“Orbán’s capture of the Hungarian media landscape turned much of the press into de facto propaganda mouthpieces for the Fidesz party,” said Tom Gibson, CPJ’s deputy advocacy director, EU.

“This restricted Hungarians’ access to information, and severely undermined Hungarian democracy, as well as the functioning of the European Union institutions. At a moment of major political change, Hungary has the potential not only to repair the damage, but also, if reform is effective, to be a model for press freedom in Europe.”

In next week’s meeting, EU member states should raise the status of planned legislative reforms, or any other non-legislative measures, including those relating to: the National Media and Infocommunications Authority and the Media Council; public service media and the state-owned Media Support and Asset Management Fund; and state advertising, ownership transparency, and limits on market concentration.

EU member states should also ask how media and civil society will be included meaningfully in legislative consultations.

After the 2019 European elections, the European Commission established several EU-wide media reforms: the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) seeks to limit media capture in member states; the anti-SLAPP Directive aims to curb the spread of vexatious lawsuits known as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation; and the Journalist Safety Recommendation addresses ongoing threats to journalists.

The EMFA challenges, in part, the economic marginalization of independent journalists and the channeling of pro-government narratives in the press — both of which characterized Orbán’s capture of the media. The law protects against editorial interference, safeguards independent public service media, and seeks to build market fairness and transparency, including around state advertising and media ownership. The EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive also provides for independence of national media regulators.

“EU legislation and recommendations should now help to drive an ambitious national conversation on media freedom in Hungary,” said Gibson. “Yet Hungary’s path to such reforms is likely to take time, and will also require close monitoring by the European Commission and the European Parliament and, where possible, offers of support.” 

Independent Hungarian journalists have endured years of massive psychological and financial pressure. CPJ urges the highest levels of the European Commission to actively support them and their work, and give them a platform and voice in Brussels, in part through its rule-of-law framework, including country missions, outreach, and public events. 

“Brussels owes it to the independent Hungarian journalist community to now work side-by-side with them to secure a more enabling environment in the country,” said Gibson.

The Orbán administration’s deployment of spyware to monitor investigative reporters also severely undermined journalists’ ability to keep sources confidential. The Hungarian authorities claimed such spyware was legally deployed for national security reasons.

The European Parliament’s former PEGA Committee, which was set up in 2022 following widespread revelations of arbitrary spyware use in EU member states, said in its final report that the Orbán administration should strengthen judicial oversight, provide redress to victims, and uphold previous rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.

The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will conduct a mission to Hungary in October to assess rule-of-law progress. It should also renew public calls for the PEGA Committee’s recommendations to be made a political priority. 

Background:

On June 16, the General Affairs Council, a body composed of EU member states, will discuss the rule of law in Hungary and the Article 7 procedure.

Known as the nuclear option, the Article 7 procedure is an EU mechanism which seeks to safeguard the rule of law, democracy, and human rights in EU member states, and can, at least in principle, allow for the suspension of a member state’s voting rights.

On September 12, 2018, the European Parliament voted to launch the Article 7 procedure against Hungary because of major rule-of-law concerns. The procedure remains open and the European Parliament will continue to track commitments made by the new government. 

Prior to the April elections in Hungary, CPJ called on all candidates to commit to 10 key steps to restore press freedom.