The European Union is adding concerns about media freedom in Hungary to its growing list of concerns about democratic freedoms in the member state.

According to The Associated Press, EU Vice President Neelie Kroes said Wednesday, January 18 that besides three existing legal challenges against the former Soviet-bloc country - which many fear may be slipping back toward authoritarianism - she is also worried that press freedom is under threat.

The warning came hours ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to the European Parliament to address his critics.

The EU Commission said Tuesday it had enough evidence to start legal proceedings in three sectors - the judiciary, the central bank and the data protection office - where it saw democratic rights under threat.