EU Commission tells Hungary to scrap bill against NGOs, media

Brussels, Belgium: The European Commission urged Hungary on Saturday to drop a planned law that critics have denounced as an attempt to muzzle NGOs an...

Brussels, Belgium: The European Commission urged Hungary on Saturday to drop a planned law that critics have denounced as an attempt to muzzle NGOs and independent media in the country.

Under its nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orban, Hungary has tightened control over courts, media outlets and civil society, drawing accusations from fellow EU countries of flouting the rule of law.

Orban's government says the so-called Transparency in Public Life bill aims to dismantle a foreign-funded "propaganda network".

But the European Commission warned that it would "not hesitate to take the necessary action if this draft is adopted".

"It would constitute a serious breach of EU principles and law," it said, adding that it "remains committed to protecting the freedom of association and fostering an enabling environment for its work across the EU".