Today, an initiative signed by as many as 101 civil society organizations was submitted to all parliamentary clubs in the Parliament of Montenegro, expressing strong opposition to the proposed amendments to the media laws which would enable full political control over the Councils of RTCG, the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services, and local public broadcasters.

The immediate cause was the announcement that in the future, NGO representatives in these bodies would be appointed by political parties rather than by the NGOs themselves, which meet legally prescribed criteria. We regret that the initiative of a small number of NGOs has been used as an attempt to advance certain political interests in the Parliament of Montenegro. That is precisely why we decided to demonstrate that the number of those who stand for the autonomy of civil society and the independence of media institutions – as well as the acceleration of European integration – is far greater. These goals were also within so-called IBAR laws, which include the media laws that would be seriously undermined by the proposed changes.

The current legislation clearly defines strict criteria for selecting Council members – a minimum of a VII1 education level and at least ten years of professional experience – and ensures that NGO representatives are selected by active, credible organizations with demonstrated expertise in relevant fields. This framework limits undue political influence and supports the professionalization of key management structures within public service broadcasters and regulators.

The proposed changes would open the door to political appointments, lower professional standards, and lead directly to systemic collapse. It is unacceptable that Council members could be appointed with only a three-year bachelor’s degree and five years of work experience, instead of highly qualified and experienced professionals.

We remind that the current RTCG Council – elected through a similar flawed model of political bargaining – has twice unlawfully appointed the Director General, as confirmed by final court rulings, and its members are now facing criminal proceedings.

We warn that such amendments could lead to the reopening of Chapter 10 (Information Society and Media),which was only temporarily closed, since the EU requires a functional and professional Agency for AVM Services free from political control. Furthermore, the new Media Freedom Act, adopted by the EU in 2024, obliges member and candidate countries to ensure the independence of public service broadcasters and media regulators, rather than undermining this sector for narrow political gain.

We therefore call on the Parliament and the Administrative Committee to abandon these backward initiatives and obstructive practices, and to urgently implement the existing legal framework. Independent NGOs must retain the right to choose their own representatives through a transparent and credible process – not by political decree.

This is one of the most broadly supported civil society initiatives in Montenegro over the past 15 years. Its content will also be communicated to relevant international institutions, especially those from the EU, which are closely monitoring developments in the media sector in Montenegro.

The initiative is submitted by:
1. Media Center, Goran Đurović
2. Trade Union of Media of Montenegro, Radomir Kračković
3. Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro, Srđa Keković
4. Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG), Milka Tadić Mijović
5. Human Rights Action (HRA), Tea Gorjanc Prelević
6. Montenegrin Media Institute, Olivera Nikolić
7. NGO Juventas, Ivana Vujović
8. Centre for Civic Education (CCE), Daliborka Uljarević
9. NGO Prima, Aida Perović
10. Association of Lawyers of Montenegro, Branislav Radulović
11. BIRN, Vuk Maraš
12. Center for Women’s and Peace Education ANIMA, Ljupka Kovačević
13. NGO 35mm, Darko Ivanović
14. Association SPEKTRA, Jovan Ulićević
15. Montenegrin PEN Center, Adnan Čirgić
16. Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI), Zlatko Vujović
17. Faculty for Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCKJ), Aleksandar Radoman
18. Equal Rights Association for LGBTI Persons (ERA), Danijel Kalezić
19. Montenegrin Women’s Lobby, Aida Petrović
20. Montenegrin LGBTIQ Association Queer Montenegro, Staša Baštrica
21. Women’s Rights Center (WRC), Maja Raičević
22. Centre for Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO), Zorana Marković
23. Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG), Marina Vujačić
24. Green Home, Azra Vuković
25. CAZAS, Mišo Pejković
26. SOS Phone for Women and Children Victims of Violence Podgorica, Biljana Zeković
27. SOS Phone for Women and Children Victims of Violence Berane, Radmila Anđić
28. SOS Phone for Women and Children Victims of Violence Plav, Esmeralda Šuvahić
29. Sociological Centre of Montenegro (SOCEN), Nikoleta Đukanović
30. Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS), Marija Popović Kalezić
31. Union of Young Entrepreneurs of Montenegro (UMPCG), Uroš Bulatović
32. NGO NADA – Herceg Novi, Marina Vuksanović
33. NGO Natura, Mikan Medenica
34. Open Centre Bona fide, Sabina Talović
35. Media Team, Duško Marković
36. NGO Ikre, Velida Hodžić
37. NGO Gradionica, Goran Janković
38. NGO Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities – Podgorica, Milisav Korać
39. Network for European Policies MASTER, Andrea Popović
40. NGO Association for Affirmation and Support to Youth – Podgorica, Savo Jovović
41. NGO Association for Support to Children with Disabilities and Their Families of Montenegro – Podgorica, Dragana Pešikan
42. NGO Vuča – Berane, Vučeta Korać
43. NGO Vunov lom, Branislav Šekularac
44. NGO SOS Phone for Women and Children Victims of Violence Bijelo Polje, Nada Ristanović
45. NGO Manifest, Mirsad Lukač
46. Bijelo Polje Network of NGOs, Uglješa Prebiračević
47. NGO European Youth Centre of Montenegro, Mladen Španjević
48. NGO Agro Centre, Ljubomir Radović
49. Centre for Roma Initiatives (CRI), Fana Delija
50. NGO Bijelo Polje Democratic Centre, Zdravko Janjušević
51. Defendology – Centre for Security, Sociological and Criminological Research of Montenegro, Slavko Milić
52. Association for the Protection of Workers’ and Unemployed Persons’ Rights of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, Drago Zeković
53. NGO E-Roma, Ismet Selimović
54. Roma Association “New Path”, Safet Selimović
55. NGO Democratic Progress, Mirko Rakonjac
56. NGO Green Action, Božidar Rogović
57. NGO Ecological Society Breznica Pljevlja, Miloran Mitrović
58. NGO Youth Association Alternative Pljevlja, Alija Šljulka
59. Association for the Development of Democracy and Civil Society, Stefan Fuštić
60. NGO Wheel of Life Mojkovac, Miodrag Kalezić
61. NGO Centre for Information and Survey Research – BP Megafon, Svetislav Perišić
62. Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights, Snežana Konatar
63. NGO Centre for Advancement and Development Mioče, Momčilo Sarić
64. NGO Super Stars A1 Plav, Milorad Vuković
65. NGO Fight for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities – BIOS, Miroslav Božović
66. Multimedia Studio Bijelo Polje, Ruzmir Osmanović
67. NGO Green Valley, Zihno Omerović
68. Association of Pensioners and Labor Invalids with the Lowest Incomes, Marko Hajduković
69. Association for the Development of Civil Society, Mirsala Tomić
70. NGO Bihor Parliament, Safet Adžibulić
71. NGO Multimedial Montenegro, Željko Đukić
72. NGO Bonum Pljevlja, Ruždija Strujić
73. Centre for the Development of Durmitor, Darko Stijepović
74. NGO Wave of Bihor, Samir Rastoder
75. NGO Giacomo Adriatic, Azra Hrapović
76. Association of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Veterans, Velibor Tomović
77. Association of Persons with Disabilities Petnjica, Denis Ramdedović
78. Association of Voluntary Blood Donors Petnjica, Enver Rastoder
79. Cultural and Artistic Society BIHOR, Sinan Tiganj
80. NGO BEHAR – Centre for the Study of the Cultural Heritage of Muslims-Bosniaks in Montenegro, Rifat Vesković
81. NGO Knowledge Attitude Behaviour – Began, Beća Čoković
82. Local Youth Council – Pljevlja, Ljubiša Lečić
83. NGO Green Action Herceg Novi, Dragomir Mitrović
84. NGO Tourist Information Centre Herceg Novi, Ivan Savchenko
85. NEW HORIZON, Nazif Velić
86. SOS Phone for Women and Children Victims of Violence Ulcinj, Hatixhe Nelaj
87. EDUCO PLUS, Almedina Dodić
88. NGO UL INFO, Mustafa Canka
89. NGO Our Voice:UL, Enes Uković
90. Animal Protection Society – FENIX Cetinje, Julija Milanović
91. NGO Optimists, Boško Milović
92. Women’s Action, Slavica Striković
93. NOVA – Centre for Feminist Culture, Nataša Nelević
94. Association Centre of the North, Boris Nedović
95. Association Sua Sponte Bar, Radomir Petrić
96. NGO Active Zone, Miloš Marković
97. NGO Association of Local Broadcasters from the North, Buljana Rudić
98. NGO Life with Diabetes LIFE, Miranda Ćurčija
99. NGO Ray of Sun (Zrak sunca), Ljiljana Krstić
100. Association Herceg Novi Initiative, Mladen Rostović
101. NGO Ksena, Sanja Crnić

The initiative was additionally supported by:
102. NGO Alumni Academy of the Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro, Nebojša Vučinić
103. Centre for Democracy and Human Rights CEDEM, Nevenka Vuksanović