Members of the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament have concluded their visit in Budapest, having gathered insights into recent developments in the country’s cultural, education and media policies.
In the concluding press conference in Budapest on Friday, the head of the delegation Sabine Verheyen (a German delegate of the European People’s Party) said that "this visit was very important, and one thing has become already clear: we need to continue the structured dialogue with Hungary on media, cultural and academic freedom, and aim at the strengthening of the common European values."
She added that the members of the committee must examine the information and contradictions they have heard in the Hungarian capital in recent days. They do not want to jump to conclusions and will issue a more detailed statement later.
She recalled that the EU recently expressed concerns about the media situation in Hungary. The European Parliament does not agree with dividing the media space into pro-government and opposition media, she said, pointing out that just because a media outlet criticises the government does not mean it is pro-government or opposition.
"Our understanding of media freedom is that the media should have a watchdog function. A free media is one of the most important pillars of democracy."
She said newspapers should not be financially dependent on political actors. Of course, sometimes all personal opinions are included in a piece, but that is why it is important to have a colourful media in the country.
Generally, members of the delegation were of the view that dialogue with Hungary on media, cultural and academic freedom needs to continue.
The delegation, comprising eight MEPs, discussed with all sides the recent developments in education, cultural and media policies in Hungary – in the light of some concerns brought to the attention of the members by Hungary’s academic and artistic community and civil society.
They met with their counterparts in the Hungarian parliament (National Assembly), Culture and Innovation Minister János Csák, Regional Development Minister Tibor Navracsics, and representatives from Hungary’s National Media and Infocommunications Authority. MEPs also met Budapest Deputy Major Anett Bősz and representatives from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, the Hungarian Academy of Science, the Central European University, the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference, and figures from media and civil society, including NGOs dealing with refugees with whom they discussed in particular the situation of school-age children and young people.


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