Brussels slams Hungary, Poland

Brussels: The European Commission sounded alarm over judicial independence, media freedom and anti-graft efforts in Hungary and Poland in a report Tuesday, as calls mount to withhold funds over rule of law breaches.

The warnings from Brussels follow a stream of criticism against the right-wing administrations in Hungary and Poland that has seen the EU begin a slew of legal cases over alleged breaches of the bloc´s rules and values.

The latest charges come in the EU´s second annual report examining press freedom, justice systems and official checks and balances across the 27 nation bloc, released on Tuesday.