European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso requested more clarity from Hungary Wednesday on a new media law, which some claim was misrepresented to Brussels. The law has drawn harsh criticism across Europe for curtailing the media and press freedom, just as Hungary begins its term as rotating EU president. It also comes as the government comes under pressure for hiking taxes on some foreign companies operating inside the country, raising additional questions of discrimination, the Dow Jones news agency reported. Now, local Hungarian media outlet Origo says that the English translation of the media law that Hungary provided to the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is missing sections. The translation omits that the fines will only be levied after Hungary’s EU presidency is over on July 1 and that Hungary won’t comply with the EU requirement to switch to digital television broadcast by the 2011 deadline. It says it may take until 2014. “What I’d like to have from the Hungarian authorities is a clarification and if possible a lifting of the doubts,” said Barroso Wednesday. Barroso is meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Friday to kick-off the country’s presidency. EU member states take turns at the presidency for six months each. Barroso said the media law will be discussed at this meeting. However, he cautioned that the EU cannot “prejudge” the law and added that there is no infringement procedure in place yet.
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