The Board of Directors of the state-owned entity “Montenegrin Electricity Market Operator” (COTEE) has deemed the tender documentation submitted by newly appointed director Mersudin Gredić to be complete and accurate. Notably, he provided a certificate of B1 language proficiency from a local NGO in Rožaje that lacks authorization from the Ministry of Education to issue such certificates.

This information comes from documentation that “Vijesti” accessed, along with responses from the education department and the Rožaje NGO.

As part of the appointment decision for Gredić as the executive director of COTEE, he presented three certificates, two of which are over a decade old, indicating that he has basic foreign language skills (A1 and A2 levels). The decision confirms that he acquired his last certificate of B1 proficiency on December 20, 2024.

However, the Rožaje NGO was unable to issue this certificate due to a lack of permission from the Ministry.

The President of the Board of Directors, Maksim Vucinic, did not respond to inquiries from the editorial team regarding Gredić’s competition documents.

Board Member Djordjije Ostojic previously commented on the matter of foreign language proficiency certifications on July 10, stating on his Facebook profile that he “categorically rejects the accusations regarding allegedly falsified English language proficiency certificates – these are documents issued by accredited institutions in Montenegro.”

In a response to “Vijesti”, Gredić maintained that he is not obliged to verify who holds any licenses for programs and educational types. He also pointed out that none of the acts of the state-owned company define the level or reference level of foreign language proficiency required for the executive director…

The June competition for the COTEE director role stipulated, alongside general requirements set by the Labor Law, that candidates must possess a four-year university degree in a technical, economic, or legal discipline, at least five years of professional experience corresponding to that level of education, and foreign language proficiency.

MPNI: No license, no certificate

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation indicated that the Rožaje NGO lacks a license to conduct educational programs, according to the Register of Adult Education Organizers. This response was provided to “Vijesti”.

They clarified that only organizations with an MPNI license can issue certificates that hold public validity to participants upon successful completion of an educational program or knowledge assessment.

“Institutions running publicly valid educational programs must possess an operating license issued by the Ministry. If there exists an entity issuing certificates without this license based on executed publicly valid educational programs, it needs to be reported to the Education Inspectorate for investigation of any irregularities,” stated the Ministry of Education and Science.

The Rožaje NGO acknowledged that Gredić participated in their course and passed the requisite tests.

“Mr. Gredić was informed that we can only issue certificates for course completion, not those recognized universally. Therefore, the certificate does not assert that he completed the course according to the CEFR framework but indicates he took a test that loosely aligns with the B1 level. Additionally, we have been issuing certificates for participation in courses and projects for years, clearly stating that these certificates are not equivalent to internationally recognized ones,” the organization explained.

Gredic: I meet all the requirements

Gredić asserted that the COTEE Statute specifies that, as a special condition for the executive director’s election, knowledge of one foreign language is required, alongside other conditions.

“The statute, as well as any other act of the company, does not specify which language and which level or reference level of proficiency is required. Hence, there is no established grading or certification necessary to meet this requirement. Moreover, aside from the certificate in question, I possess a certification and credential from the International Center for Foreign Language Learning, Oxford Center from Podgorica, for a specific level of English, along with a diploma from the cultural and educational institution Lingva Mont in Podgorica, which I included with my application for the executive director position,” he stated.

He argued that since the Statute or any COTEE act does not specify the level or grade of language knowledge required, his previously mentioned certificates and diplomas adequately fulfill the formal legal prerequisites in this regard.

“I trust that you recognize I meet all general and specific qualifications for the executive director role, for which I have provided the requested documentation,” he concluded.

“I categorically reject claims about allegedly falsified English language proficiency certificates – these are documents issued by accredited institutions in Montenegro,” Board member Đorđije Ostojić stated on his Facebook profile on July 10.

In an electronic session at the end of July, the government approved the COTEE Board of Directors’ appointment of Gredić as director, which occurred shortly thereafter.

Earlier on the same day, the company proposed Gredić for the director role, along with a proposal to significantly increase the compensation for Board members. The document specifies that Vučinić (former DF) will receive a remuneration of at least 2,200 euros going forward, up from the previous 700 euros, while Ostojić (PES) will now receive at least 2,000 euros. Nermin Škretović (BS) stands to receive over 1,400 euros.

Consequently, the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption is looking into possible conflicts of interest or threats to public interest related to this situation. Meanwhile, the Women’s Rights Center has reported that several women—either current or former employees at institutions where Gredić has worked—have reached out claiming they experienced mobbing…

For any director, employees require at least B1

While COTEE’s governing documents do not specify the language proficiency level required for the executive director, the internal job classification rules stipulate that most employees are expected to possess at least a B1 level of proficiency.

According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), A1 and A2 levels represent basic usage.

An A2 level indicates that an individual can understand phrases and commonly used words in immediate contexts, such as basic personal information or shopping… An individual at this level can read very short and simple texts, and communicate in uncomplicated, everyday situations requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar topics…

A B1 level indicates independent language use—understanding clear, standard speech about familiar subjects, professional language, and engaging in conversations without prior preparation. B2 involves fluent, spontaneous communication, along with reading news or fiction in a foreign language. C1 and C2 levels denote advanced language proficiency.

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