NGOs active in the media field today submitted an appeal to the Delegation of the European Union to engage in the implementation of media laws and the appointment of members of the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (SAMU).
Civil society organizations active in the field of media have called on the Head of the EU Delegation, Johan Sattler, to remind the Montenegrin authorities, in a dialogue with responsible officials of the European Commission and the EEAS, of their undertaken obligations and to point out the possibility of reopening Chapter 10 (Information Society and Media), if the Parliament of Montenegro continues to delay the implementation of the law and does not appoint members of the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AVMU) as soon as possible.
NGOs reminded the Head of the EU Delegation that the Parliament of Montenegro had already unsuccessfully carried out the procedure for appointing two members of the Agency's Council on three occasions.
"We are convinced that this is a deliberate obstruction by the ruling majority, given that the Law on Audiovisual Media Services has been in force for more than a year," reads a joint statement signed by Goran Đurović (Media Center), Olivera Nikolić (Media Institute of Montenegro), Daliborka Uljarević (Centre for Civic Education), Milka Tadić Mijović (Centre for Investigative Journalism), Mila Radulović (Society of Professional Journalists of Montenegro), Mustafa Canka (NGO 'Ul Info'), Zdravko Janjušević (Bijelopole Democratic Center), Željko Đukić (NGO Multimedia Montenegro), Nataša Nelević (NOVA - Center for Feminist Culture), Muamera Muslić (NGO Đakomo Adriatic), Boris Nedović (NGO Center of the North) and Radomir Petrić (NGO Sua Sponte Bar).
They recalled that in June 2024, as part of the process of obtaining a positive IBAR, media laws were adopted, with the active participation and praise of civil society and the support of the opposition. The parliamentary majority unanimously supported them.
"Following the adoption of the media laws, Chapter 10 was temporarily closed at the end of last year. However, the President of the Parliament has repeatedly failed to ensure their implementation. The first public call for Council members was only announced in December 2024, six months after the legal deadline, and was cancelled in January 2025 due to a "technical error". The second call shortly afterwards was again obstructed by the Administrative Committee on legally unfounded grounds. Despite repeated calls from the EU and civil society, the third call in May 2025 also failed after the parliamentary majority in the plenum abstained, blocking the appointment of candidates from civil society and CANU, even though they met all legal requirements."
The statement points out that "this months-long obstruction leaves the Council functioning with only three out of five members."
"Consequently, all second-instance decisions must be made unanimously, which limits the effectiveness of that body and keeps it under undue pressure in a state of emergency. This undermines the Agency's mandate, including the ability to respond to cases such as banning the rebroadcasting of harmful content from Serbia that spreads hate speech, denies Montenegrin identity, or incites discrimination against minorities."
NGOs have pointed out to the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro that the President of the Parliament will be legally obliged to announce a new call for another member of the Council from the ranks of universities in early October 2025. Any further delay would further deepen the dysfunctionality and institutional paralysis of the Agency's Council.
"Chapter 10 was temporarily closed with the clear expectation that the law would be fully implemented and that the Agency for AVM Services would become fully functional. This did not happen. Such persistent inactivity not only violates Montenegro's obligations in the EU accession process, but also undermines public trust and the credibility of the enlargement process itself. Therefore, NGOs appeal to the European Commission and the EEAS to clearly and decisively convey, through the EU Delegation to Montenegro, to the President of the Parliament, the Government and the parliamentary majority that continued obstruction risks reopening Chapter 10. A timely and unambiguous reminder to the EU would be a strong incentive to respect the law, preserve the independence of the media and restore confidence in Montenegro's European path," the statement reads.
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