The European Commission defends its long-standing financial backing of Euronews, insisting that editorial independence is a criteria of that support, as concerns mount over press freedom ahead of Hungary’s pivotal April 12 election.
“Euronews is an independent private company. The Commission plays absolutely no role in editorial or managerial decisions,” said Thomas Regnier, a Commission spokesperson. He added that any media organisation receiving EU funding must demonstrate its editorial autonomy.
Regnier’s comment comes amid a series of escalating controversies involving media integrity, foreign interference claims, and an espionage investigation targeting a Hungarian journalist. Together, they have intensified scrutiny of the role of journalism in Hungary’s increasingly tense electoral climate.
Euronews says article was temporarily unavailable for lack of transparent disclosure of ownership information.
Questions about Euronews have long circulated, fuelled in part by scrutiny of its ownership structure and alleged ties to figures close to Orbán. But the latest incident follows a report by Euractiv‘s Elisa Braun on possible breach of editorial integrity after the removal of an article by Euronews’ Budapest correspondent Gábor Tanács about falling share prices in companies closely linked to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Euronews subsequently reinstated the article on 1 April, five days after its removal. “This article was temporarily unavailable on our site because it lacked a transparent disclosure of ownership information. After investigating and correcting the error, we have reposted the article online,” said Euronews.
The European Commission, which has provided funding to Euronews for more than a decade, confirmed that editorial independence is a core requirement of its financial agreements. Funding for the outlet reached nearly €12 million in 2025, including support for reporting from Hungary.
Espionage Investigation Targets Journalist
Concerns over press freedom entered the election spotlight on March 26, when Hungarian authorities launched an espionage investigation into well-known investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi for alleged espionage linked to Ukraine.
The probe followed reports connecting Panyi to allegations that Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, shared confidential European Union information with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.
“I have never engaged in espionage. I see my work as journalistic counterintelligence — from exposing the hacking of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry by Russian actors to uncovering pro-Kremlin propaganda networks,” said Panyi.
Think Tank Criticises Media Narratives
The debate has also drawn in MCC Brussels, a think tank aligned with Hungary’s ruling establishment. “If the European media wishes to retain public trust, it must restore a clear distinction between evidence-based reporting and ideologically driven speculation,” said Frank Furedi, executive director of MCC Brussels. Furedi criticised “politically convenient narratives built on anonymous briefings, unverifiable claims, and media amplification” that call into question the integrity of investigative journalism.
Th Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR)1, which tracks violations of press freedom, condemned the espionage investigation as an escalation in Hungary’s campaign to crush independent journalism. “By targeting Szabolcs Panyi, the Hungarian government is sending a chilling message to deter investigative reporting, and shield those in power from scrutiny in crucial election times,” said the MFRR.
Dafydd ab Iago contributed to this story.
