Within the new media laws, there are problems such as the removal of some competencies from the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU), which is not the one that monitors the application of professional standards. We are also witnessing the broadcasting and transmission of content, especially from Serbia, aimed at negating Montenegrin identity, through cable operators.
This was stated, among other things, by the director of the Media Center, Goran Đurović, during the round table "Harmonization of Montenegrin legislation with European Union (EU) regulations in the field of media".
He believes that due to the promotion of propaganda content from Serbia and Russia, AMU has been operating without all members of the Council for some time.
Some of those directly responsible for obstructing the implementation of the law, Đurović claims, are the President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandić, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, leader of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knežević...
"The current majority does not want to lose political influence over the work of the Agency... It is also important to mention that we have a problem in the application of the law when it comes to the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG). We have had an illegal director of the Public Service for four years. The prosecution and the courts still do not have an answer to this situation," said Đurović.
He also emphasized that Radio-Television Podgorica (Gradska TV) is under the full influence of the current government, "where the dismissal of the current director" of that media outlet is not being initiated.
He called on the European Commission and the Italian Embassy to reopen the issue of "temporarily closed Chapter 10".
"We as citizens will not benefit from having some chapters closed in 2026 and entering the European Union in 2028...", added Đurović.
Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović said that the process is not an isolated task for that department. She reminded that it is not a political goal, but a generational opportunity.
"Freedom of the media and the safety of citizens on the internet are not technical topics. Free media and a safe digital space best demonstrate the health of a society," she said.
She emphasized that citizens have the right to know who is behind the information they receive.
The European law on media freedom, she said, brings "guarantees of trust in the media."
She reminded that opinions are formed and debates are held in the digital space, but that due to its ubiquity, there are numerous dangers that users encounter.
"No institution can carry out this complex task alone. Citizens expect free media that bring the truth. I am certain that we will complete this demanding task successfully," she said.
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Riccardo Seri, said he was pleased to be present at the seminar, which discussed important democratic principles.
He said that Montenegro is a "lucky country" because of media pluralism.
"Although pluralism is present, it does not mean that there are no problems. The market is limited, and the political polarization current is strong... Freedom of the media and newspapers can be threatened on a daily basis," Seri pointed out.
He stressed that journalists must be impartial and completely accurate when reporting from the field.
"However, journalists should never be targeted, verbally attacked, or exiled," he said.
The round table was realized within the project "Professional Journalism for Better Protection of Human Rights" implemented by the Media Center in partnership with the Media Institute of Montenegro and the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro. The project is funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration.
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