Montenegro is in an advanced stage of harmonization with European Union rules in the areas of digital services, digital markets and media freedom, said Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović at the panel "Harmonization of Montenegro with the European Framework for Media and Digital Space".
She stated that this is a continuous process that includes the harmonization of legislation, the building of an institutional framework, and preparation for the implementation of European rules in areas that are continuously developing within the European Union.
"The drafting of the law on the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA), whose adoption is expected in the second quarter of 2026, is in the final stage. This law regulates the competences of authorities, supervision mechanisms and the protection of user rights, while establishing an institutional framework for the implementation of rules that are directly applicable in the EU as a regulation. At the same time, work is being done on the framework for the implementation of the Digital Market Act (DMA), through an interdepartmental working group coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Development, and both legal solutions will be submitted for public debate," Vujović pointed out, PR Centar writes.
Vujović explained that the DSA requires the establishment of an institutional structure, including the appointment of a coordinator for digital services and cooperation mechanisms with European institutions.
A multi-sector working group consisting of representatives of state institutions, regulators, media, and civil society has been working on these solutions since June 2025, with the support of international partners, primarily the European Commission and the Council of Europe.
This is the first time that a country has systematically approached harmonizing its capacities and legislation with the implementation of a comprehensive European regulation such as the Digital Services Act, according to the PR Center.
This path is being worked on intensively, dedicatedly and comprehensively, with the involvement of various stakeholders and experts. Today's event is an opportunity to present what has been done so far, but also to clearly map the future direction when it comes to the development and regulation of the digital market.
The DSA today builds on and complements the E-commerce Directive and has the role that the Digital Single Market once had - it is a horizontal framework that permeates different spheres of society, bearing in mind that activities that once took place offline now predominantly take place in the digital space, but require the same level of protection and legal certainty.
Such a process implies amendments and adjustments to a large number of laws, until the moment of Montenegro's accession to the European Union, when this regulation will be directly and fully applied, as in all member states.
Essentially, the goal is to prepare the entire system – from institutions and regulators to the civil sector – to act in a coordinated and harmonized manner, because only such an approach is a prerequisite for effective implementation and real protection of citizens in the digital environment.
According to her, Montenegro has been recognized in Brussels as one of the more advanced candidate countries in the field of digital policies, which confirms the progress of reforms, but also the additional obligation to continue harmonizing with European standards.
Speaking about the broader context, she pointed out that the digital space represents a key infrastructure of modern society, in which citizens exercise their right to information, expression and participation in democratic processes, which is why its regulation requires a clear and responsible regulatory framework.
"The DSA and DMA set rules on the accountability of digital services, transparency and the functioning of digital markets, which are of direct importance for candidate countries as well," she said, adding that compliance with these rules is also an instrument for strengthening the rule of law and improving market competition.
The Minister emphasized that the implementation of DSA implies strengthening user protection, including more efficient handling of reports of illegal content, greater transparency of the recommendation and advertising system, as well as additional obligations of very large online platforms in managing systemic risks.
In the area of media, the alignment process also includes the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which requires further adjustments to the legislative and institutional framework. A roadmap for its implementation is being prepared, with the aim of strengthening editorial independence, transparency of ownership and protection from undue influence, according to the PR Center.
"The goal is not just formal harmonization, but the establishment of a functional system that can be applied in practice and ensure the protection of user rights and media freedom in accordance with European standards," concluded Vujović.
Professor at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, Hrvoje Lisičar, assessed that Montenegro is on the right track when it comes to harmonizing with European rules in the field of digital services, but warned that a demanding process of building capacity and an institutional framework lies ahead.
"I think you're going in the right direction. It's a very complex and demanding process, in which there's a lot of misunderstanding about what digital services actually mean," said Lisičar.
He pointed out that Croatia was in a slightly different position, given that the Digital Services Act (DSA) is directly implemented in the European Union, but that they also faced challenges in organization, capacity building, and designation of competent authorities.
According to him, the DSA is not just a law that needs to be formally implemented, but a framework that regulates a wide range of services provided over the internet.
"When you consider what is happening online today, it is clear how complex the system is and how many actors must be involved," Lisičar said.
He particularly pointed out the challenges for smaller countries in relation to large digital companies.
"It is questionable how much a country like Croatia or Montenegro can independently influence large platforms. That is precisely why the role of the European Commission is important, because that way we act together and more efficiently," said Lisičar.
He added that practice shows that such an approach is more effective, especially through the procedures and measures that the EU initiates against large companies.
Lisičar emphasized that the DSA is a "living" document that is constantly evolving through new guidelines and rules, which is why continuous adaptation is necessary.
"If you don't have enough capacity, especially professional staff who can monitor these changes, problems arise," warned Lisičar.
He pointed out that significant efforts are being made in Croatia to educate experts through faculties and various projects, in order to ensure the quality implementation of regulations such as DSA, DMA and GDPR.
Speaking about the essence of the DSA, Lisičar explained that the act does not represent a "magic solution", but a framework that allows various actors to operate in the digital space.
"States must define what they consider illegal content, while the system enables its removal and monitoring," Lisičar explained.
He emphasized the important role of civil society and the media, which can have a significant impact through mechanisms such as reporting content.
"The state cannot be expected to solve all problems on its own, especially when it comes to harmful, and not necessarily illegal, content," said Lisičar.
He added that DSA brings numerous opportunities for citizens, consumers, and the academic community, including access to data and insight into the functioning of large platforms.
However, he pointed out that additional work is needed to inform the public about the rights and opportunities that this framework brings.
"When citizens understand that there are mechanisms that protect them, they will certainly use them more," concluded Lisičar.
Assistant Director of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services, Jadranka Vojvodić, pointed out that the work on harmonization with European digital regulations was marked by broad and heterogeneous cooperation between various institutions and stakeholders, which she considers one of the greatest values of the process.
"The working group was extremely heterogeneous. In addition to ministries, representatives of the non-governmental sector, the judiciary and the prosecutor's office participated. This allowed us to look at the problems from different angles, institutional, legal and administrative," said Vojvodić.
She also emphasized the importance of continued support from international experts, as well as the contribution of the civil sector, which, she said, was especially important in situations when they were facing unknown challenges.
"The aim of the working group was to unify the approach to the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). However, it soon became clear that the implementation of EMFA depends on the solutions that will be adopted within the DSA. We realized that the experiences of EU member states are not fully applicable to Montenegro, because these acts in the EU are directly applicable, while we, as a candidate country, have to transpose everything into national legislation," explained Vojvodić.
She pointed out that deadlines and the need to amend a large number of sectoral laws posed a particular challenge, which is why the working group considered multiple implementation models.
As she stated, four scenarios were analyzed: full adoption of the EU model, partial transposition in cooperation with the European Commission, limited national regulation, and a model of gradual harmonisation through implementing law.
"We concluded that the most rational solution is to pass an implementation law that would define institutions, competencies and methods of financing, and which would be ready by the end of June, with a public debate and further adoption by the end of the year," said Vojvodić.
According to her, such an approach has received support from the European Commission, which recommended not to rush into complex laws, but to focus on building capacity and the readiness of institutions for implementation.
"Within the proposed model, the Digital Services Coordinator would be a national authority, while responsibilities would be divided between several institutions. These include judicial authorities and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for criminal offenses, the Personal Data Protection Agency, authorities responsible for intellectual property, as well as inspection services and institutions in the field of health and consumer protection," Vojvodić stated.
She emphasized that the goal is to make maximum use of existing institutional capacities, instead of creating new bodies.
"It is important to clearly define the coordinator, competent authorities and the method of financing, in order for the system to be functional," Vojvodić emphasized.
She particularly pointed out the importance of strengthening the capacities of both state institutions and the civil sector, stating that it is necessary to provide human resources, professional support and continuous education.
"Many of these areas are new and require additional knowledge," added Vojvodić.
She emphasized that it is necessary to develop a special capacity building program, which would precisely define the needs, the number of people and skills that are missing, as well as the method of financing.
Vojvodić also emphasized the importance of raising citizens' awareness of their rights in the digital space.
"Citizens must know that they have rights in the digital environment, as well as protection mechanisms. DSA brings exactly such opportunities, but it is important that users recognize and use them," said Vojvodić.
She concluded that the harmonization process should not be seen as a one-time task, but as a continuous development of a system that will enable a safer and more transparent digital environment for all.
The panel "Alignment of Montenegro with the European Framework for Media and Digital Space", which brought together representatives of institutions, regulators, the civil sector and international organizations, assessed that this is one of the most demanding segments of the European integration process. Participants emphasized the need for parallel development of the legislative and institutional framework for the implementation of the DSA and DMA, with gradual adaptation of media legislation in accordance with EMFA, in order to ensure a balance between the protection of fundamental rights, strengthening editorial independence, freedom of expression and risk management in the digital space. The panel was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Ministry of European Affairs, the Open Society Foundations - Western Balkans and the SHARE Foundation.
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