NGO representatives to Satler: EU to engage regarding the appointment of SAMU and RTCG Council members

Representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Media Center, Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG), Center for Civic Education (CCE/CGO), Center for Investigative Journalism (CIN-CG), Society of Professional Journalists, Ul Info, Bijelo Polje Democratic Center, NGO Multimedial, NOVA - Center for Feminist Culture, submitted to the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Montenegro, Johan Satler, an appeal for EU engagement regarding the implementation of media laws and the appointment of members of the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (SAMU) and the Council of Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG).

This is stated in a joint statement by these NGOs, submitted by Goran Đurović from the Media Center.

"Civil society organizations active in the field of media have called on officials of the European Commission and the EEAS to remind the Montenegrin authorities of their obligations and the possibility of reopening Chapter 10 (Information Society and Media) if the Parliament of Montenegro continues to delay the implementation of media laws and does not appoint, as soon as possible, members of the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services and the Council of RTCG," the statement said.

It is added that NGO representatives informed Satler that an invitation was recently sent to the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, to announce public calls for the appointment of one member of the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services and four members of the Council of RTCG, in order to ensure the full implementation of the Law on Audiovisual Media Services and the Law on the National Public Broadcaster - the Public Media Service of Montenegro.

"In accordance with the Law on Audiovisual Media Services (Article 153), the President of the Parliament was obliged to launch a public call for the election of one member of the AVMU Agency Council in December 2025. Furthermore, according to Article 27 of the Law on the National Public Broadcaster, the public call for the election of four members of the RTCG Council should have been published no later than February 15, 2026," the statement reads.

NGO representatives called on the EU Delegation to Montenegro to use the upcoming visit of Commissioner Marta Kos to emphasize to Montenegrin officials that, after months of delay in fulfilling these legal obligations, public calls for the appointment of members of these two councils must be published without further delay.

"This is necessary to enable the proper implementation of media laws and ensure the smooth functioning of the key management bodies of RTCG and the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services," the statement said.

NGO representatives said that Mandić is obliged to invite the Bar Association to propose a candidate for membership in the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services.

They also said that in addition, Mandić should immediately announce a public call for the appointment of four members of the RTCG Council, who will be proposed by:

• The Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro and the Employers' Association represented in the Social Council (one member);

• non-governmental organizations in the field of media, excluding broadcasters' associations (one member);

• non-governmental organizations working to protect human rights and freedoms, including those focused on equality, environmental protection, consumer rights, rights of persons with disabilities, education and social protection (one member);

• Montenegrin Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee (one member).

"We hope that the engagement of EU representatives will contribute to the timely and full implementation of media laws in Montenegro," reads a joint statement by NGO representatives.