The European Commission’s latest rule-of-law assessment says Hungary has made some reforms, but it also highlights persistent concerns over corruption, media freedom, and institutional checks. The picture is mixed: progress in some areas is acknowledged, while pressure points in transparency and media independence remain under scrutiny.
EU report praises reforms but flags corruption and media concerns
The European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report on Hungary describes a country that has taken some steps forward but still faces serious criticism over corruption risks, media freedom, and the protection of journalists. According to the Commission, Hungary remains under close watch for issues that affect democratic accountability and the functioning of independent institutions.
The report sits within a broader EU assessment of rule-of-law standards across member states, but Hungary continues to draw particular attention because of repeated concerns about governance, transparency and the media environment. The Commission’s findings were also echoed in later coverage about Hungary’s deteriorating rule-of-law situation and its compliance problems under media-related EU rules.
Commission findings
As reported by the European Commission, Hungary has not met several requirements under the European Media Freedom Act and related audiovisual media rules. The Commission said it sees problems involving interference in the work of journalists and media outlets, restrictions on economic activity and editorial freedom, and insufficient protection for journalistic sources and confidential communications.
The Commission also said Hungary fails to comply with requirements linked to public service media, transparency of media ownership, assessment of media market concentrations, and the allocation of state advertising. In addition, it said there are shortcomings in the way national media regulatory authorities operate under EU audiovisual rules.
The Commission has opened an infringement procedure by sending Hungary a letter of formal notice. Budapest now has two months to respond and address the concerns raised; otherwise, the Commission may move to the next stage by issuing a reasoned opinion.
Corruption concerns remain
The anti-corruption picture remains troubling. Transparency International’s 2026 Corruption Perceptions Index, as covered by Telex, placed Hungary 84th globally, its lowest position to date, and said the country remained the most corrupt EU member state in the ranking. The publication also noted that Hungary’s score had worsened compared with the previous year.
That assessment reinforces the wider concern that political and institutional reforms have not yet translated into a strong enough anti-corruption framework in practice. For observers following the country closely, the issue is not simply isolated misconduct, but whether the systems meant to prevent abuse of power are robust enough to withstand political pressure.
Media freedom pressure
The Commission’s 10 December 2025 statement is especially severe on the media environment, saying Hungarian law does not provide adequate protection for journalistic sources or effective judicial protection when those rights are breached. It also said the rules around state advertising, media ownership transparency and market concentration fall short of EU standards.
These findings matter because media independence is often the first line of defence against corruption. When journalists cannot protect sources, access public-interest information freely, or operate without economic pressure, scrutiny over public spending and political conduct becomes harder.
Rule of law context
The European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report placed Hungary within a wider EU framework that examines justice systems, anti-corruption measures, media pluralism and checks and balances. While the EU reported progress in many member states, Hungary remained one of the countries drawing concern over persistent structural weaknesses.
The European Newsroom coverage of the earlier 2024 rule-of-law report noted that the Commission was expanding its assessment to include enlargement candidate countries for the first time, underlining how central rule-of-law monitoring has become to EU policy. In Hungary’s case, the repeated criticism suggests the issues are long-running rather than temporary.
What the report means
The most immediate consequence is political pressure on the Hungarian government to respond to Brussels and demonstrate compliance with EU law. The formal notice gives Hungary a limited time frame to explain or correct the alleged breaches, and the process could lead to further legal action if the Commission is not satisfied.
At a broader level, the report strengthens the argument that corruption, media capture and rule-of-law erosion cannot be treated separately. A weak media environment can reduce exposure of wrongdoing, while weak anti-corruption enforcement can deepen public distrust and damage institutional legitimacy.
Attribution from coverage
As reported by Telex, the latest Transparency International figures show Hungary at a historic low in the Corruption Perceptions Index, reinforcing the country’s poor standing on integrity and governance.
As reported by the European Commission, Hungary is now subject to an infringement procedure over media-freedom-related breaches under EU law.
As reflected in European Newsroom’s coverage of the rule-of-law process, the EU’s annual monitoring has become more assertive, with Hungary continuing to stand out as a problem case in the bloc.
Hungary’s latest EU scrutiny presents a dual picture: some reform momentum exists, but it is outweighed by continuing concerns about corruption, media independence and the protection of journalists. The Commission’s legal action, together with fresh corruption rankings, shows the pressure on Budapest is not easing.
