The Media Center, Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN-CG), Human Rights Action (HRA), Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG), Center for Civic Education (CCE), Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro, Media Union of Montenegro, and Montenegrin PEN Center have provided the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Montenegro, Johan Sattler, with an update on the hindrances affecting the implementation of the Law on Audiovisual Media Services within the Montenegrin Parliament, as well as the obstruction of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU).

According to the collaborative statement released by these non-governmental organizations (NGOs), they presented detailed information to Sattler regarding the annulment of the public call for two members of the Agency Council, a decision made by the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, who has yet to provide compelling justification for this action.

“We remind that the passing of the Law on Audiovisual Media Services was one of the criteria for securing a positive IBAR, in addition to temporarily closing Chapter 10 – Information Society and Media. It is evident that the President of the Parliament’s and the Administrative Board’s actions pose a significant threat to the reopening of this chapter, particularly given that the second final benchmark under Chapter 10 pertains to the functional and independent operation of the electronic media regulatory body, specifically the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services,” the statement indicates.

They emphasized that Mandić and the Assembly’s Administrative Committee are consistently obstructing the enforcement of this law, which includes delaying the announcement of the competition for nearly six months and the recent cancellation due to a purported “technical error that could have caused confusion” on the final day of the competition.

They pointed out that two candidates from the NGO sector submitted their applications – Dragoljub Vuković, who received backing from 14 NGOs, and Nikola Vujanović, who had the support of one NGO.

“Moreover, the Montenegrin PEN Center proposed a candidate for the second vacant position on the Council. Therefore, there was no confusion; rather, it appears that some intended candidates could not secure sufficient credible support and subsequently withdrew, further leading to overt politically motivated obstruction of the process,” the statement noted.

They remarked that this action by the President of the Parliament directly results in the Agency Council having only three of its five members, which necessitates the presence of all members at every session and the requirement for unanimous decisions for the Agency to operate.

“Additionally, the establishment of a new process for electing two members will take a minimum of two months, during which the Agency will be inactive. We have urged the EU Delegation Head to utilize his authority to remind the Montenegrin Parliament’s leadership that enforcing this law is integral to the negotiation process and to endorse the NGOs’ efforts to ensure the seamless functioning of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services,” the statement reads.

The statement is endorsed by:

Goran Đurović – Media Center,

Milka Tadić Mijović – Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN-CG),

Tea Gorjanc Prelević – Human Rights Action (HRA),

Olivera Nikolić – Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG),

Daliborka Uljarević – Center for Civic Education (CCE),

Mila Radulović – Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro,

Radomir Krackovic – Media Union of Montenegro,

Adnan Čirgić – Montenegrin PEN Center

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