EMFA’s Hungarian implications and impact on the Hungarian legal environment
Monitoring Report II. (November 23, 2025)
Created by: Balint Barki, Gabor Polyak
In cooperation with Mérték Media Monitor and Connect Europe, we continuously monitor the European Media Freedom Act (official name: European Media Freedom Act; hereinafter: EMFA) and its implementation into the Hungarian legal system, as well as its domestic and European application. However, the legal form of the EMFA is a regulation, which, in principle, does not require implementation by the Member States, since the regulation can be directly invoked before national courts. However, many provisions of the EMFA require further action by Member States due to the lack of detailed rules or because existing Member States’ legislation provides regulatory solutions that differ from those of the EMFA. The European Commission is currently consulting with the Member States’ governments to ensure the full applicability of the EMFA. The provisions of the EMFA entered into full force on 8 August 2025.
In the first part of the report, we summarise those provisions of the European Media Freedom Act that explicitly impose legislative or other action tasks on Member States and designated authorities. We then examine the extent to which the Hungarian state and the relevant authorities have complied with the EMFA’s provisions since its entry into force. In the third part of the report, we examine the activities of the Media Services Supervisory Authority (the Authority), established by EMFA and replacing the European Group of Audiovisual Media Regulators (ERGA). The primary objective of establishing the Authority is to ensure the consistent implementation of European media regulation. To this end, the Authority brings together and coordinates the operations of national regulatory authorities and bodies.
Originally published: Connect Europe
Downloadable document: EMFA’s Hungarian implications and impact on the Hungarian legal environment