The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) welcomes the infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission on Thursday against Hungary for violation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). The EFJ calls on the EU executive to do the same with regard to Lithuania, following Thursday’s vote on provisions that repoliticize the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, in clear breach of the EMFA.

The European Commission must take action against countries that no longer respect the basic principles of press freedom. The EFJ therefore welcomes the EC decision to open an infringement procedure against Hungary for failing to comply with several provisions under EMFA and certain requirements under AVMSD. According to the European Commission, Hungary does not comply with provisions regarding interference in the work of journalists and media outlets in Hungary, restricting their economic activities and editorial freedom. Moreover, the Commission considers that Hungarian law does not offer an adequate protection of journalistic sources and confidential communications, nor effective judicial protection when these rights are breached. Hungary also fails to comply with requirements relating to the public service media, the transparency of media ownership, the assessment of media market concentrations and the allocation of State advertising.

The EFJ as well as academic experts such as Kati Cseres and Ana-Caterina Ciusca, have repeatedly denounced these violations, including the recent acquisition of Hungary’s most-read tabloid newspaper, Blikk, by a pro-government media group, and the enduring climate of political harassment and demonisation of independent journalists in the country.

The EFJ is now calling on the European Commission to launch a similar infringement procedure against Lithuania, which in a vote in Parliament on Thursday blatantly violates the EMFA provisions designed to protect the independence of public broadcasters. Lithuanian lawmakers on Thursday approved the first reading of an amendment that would make it easier to dismiss the head of the national public broadcaster, LRT, a move that threatens media independence.

Seventy-six members of the Parliament voted in favor of the bill, with 50 opposed and none abstaining. The measure, drafted by the ruling Social Democrats, was supported by the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union and the Nemunas Dawn party. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, Culture Minister Vaida Aleknavičienė, former Culture Minister Šarūnas Birutis, Seimas Culture Committee Chair Kęstutis Vilkauskas, Speaker Juozas Olekas and Education, Science and Sport Minister Raminta Popovienė all voted in favour.

“This repoliticization of LRT is totally contrary to the provisions and spirit of the EMFA,” said EFJ President Maja Sever. “It is a provocation to the EU. In particular, we denounce the attitude of the Minister for Culture, who has refused to convene the Media Council set up to consult the representative bodies of the profession on any issue relating to the media. This lack of transparency is evidence of a desire to take political control of LRT, despite the fact that this channel has until now been considered one of the most independent in Europe, notably following the assessment of the Media Pluralism Monitor study. What is happening in Lithuania is alarming: if the European Commission does not react vigorously, other countries will follow the repressive policy of the Lithuanian authorities”.