Budapest bows to pressure on media law

Hungarian parliamentarians have finally responded to three months of pressure from Europe by "modifying the law" on the media, reports Nepszabadság. On 7 March, under the watchful eye of the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda Nellie Kroes, they adopted a number of amendments to soften the impact of measures which came into force on 3 January. From now on, the law will no longer apply to websites and blogs, fines for offending content will be reduced, and media companies will no longer be obliged to register with national authorities. However, the changes will not "put an end to the debate in political and academic circles," notes the daily. Representatives of the country’s media, who are still planning to hold a demonstration on Hungarian Revolution Day which is 15 March, also intend to file a complaint with the country’s constitutional court.