Hungary: PM defends media law but signals its dilution

Hungary will change its much-criticised new media law if the European Union wants, prime minister Viktor Orban has said.

Delivering a vigorous defence of the legislation yesterday, which has been roundly criticised by France, Britain and Germany, he said: "We are part of the EU, there are rules of the game."

Reporters had been invited to meet Mr Orban as he prepared to takeover the rotating presidency of the EU for the next six months. However, he said he did not believe there was anything in Hungary's law that was not already in any other EU member state's legislation .