Earlier reports indicated that Bertelsmann would withdraw its complaint to the European Commission over Hungary’s advertising tax in exchange for a reduction of that tax.

Lázár said yesterday that talks are close to completion, and that there will without doubt be an advertising tax, the only question is its size.

The probable size of the tax is 5.3% of revenues, Népszabadság writes.

At an Economy Ministry press conference yesterday, sources familiar with the talks said no agreement has been reached.

The EU favours a flat-rate tax, but the government is thinking of a two-tier system to impose a lower or zero tax on small media companies, they said.

RTL Klub is prepared to reach a final deal at the meeting with Orbán, in which RTL will withdraw its complaint at the European Commission against the tax in exchange for a lower tax, according to Népszabadság.

RTL will not change the anti-government tone of its news broadcasts, Népszabadság learnt.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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