A group of NGOs today submitted a request to the Head of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Ambassador Johann Sattler, calling on the EU Delegation to appoint an observer to monitor the process of selecting four new members of the Council of Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG). The request was prompted by serious concerns regarding the legality of the procedure, including the acceptance of incomplete and questionable documentation submitted by certain candidates who appear to be favoured by the ruling political parties.
Organisations working in the fields of human rights and media have called on the EU Delegation, as well as relevant officials of EU institutions and other international organisations, to closely monitor the implementation of the Law on RTCG and remind the parliamentary majority of its obligation to fully respect the prescribed legal procedures. The inclusion of an EU representative as an observer would serve as an important guarantee of transparency and legality in a process that has already raised serious public concerns and is of crucial importance for the independence of the public service broadcaster.
Attention was also drawn to the fact that the public call for the appointment of four RTCG Council members was launched with a delay of 45 days, as well as to concerns that the Administrative Committee is attempting to accelerate the procedure in order to submit politically favoured candidates to Parliament for approval without a thorough review of their documentation and compliance with the legal requirements.
It is also indicative that opposition MPs attending the Administrative Committee session held on 4 June were not allowed to conduct a detailed review of the complete documentation submitted by all candidates, despite the fact that this documentation formed the basis for determining whether the nominations met the legal criteria.
Based on only a single day of research using publicly available online sources and databases, significant deficiencies were identified in the documentation submitted in support of Veselin Drljević (candidate nominated by NGOs from the media sector) and Amar Škrijelj (candidate nominated by NGOs from the human rights sector). Furthermore, some nomination files do not even contain basic information regarding the category of authorised nominators, namely whether the candidates were proposed by organisations active in the fields of media or human rights. This information is a fundamental element in assessing the legality of a nomination.
The majority within the Administrative Committee has also demonstrated inconsistency in the application of legal criteria. Only a few months ago, the same majority annulled the process of appointing members of the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services due to formal deficiencies in candidates’ documentation. Today, however, the same or similar deficiencies are being disregarded in the case of candidates supported by the ruling majority.
The group of NGOs also informed the EU Delegation and other relevant international actors that among the organisations supporting Veselin Drljević and Amar Škrijelj are entities that do not meet the legal requirements. These include organisations that no longer exist, organisations that are not active in the media sector despite nominating a candidate under that category, organisations lacking publicly available evidence of relevant activities, and organisations that fail to meet the financial criteria prescribed by the Law on RTCG. These findings indicate that the Parliamentary Service failed to properly assess whether the legal requirements and documentation submitted by RTCG Council candidates satisfy the conditions prescribed by law.
Following the withdrawal of support for Veselin Drljević by one of the nominating organisations, the Society of Montenegrin Journalists, additional questions have arisen regarding the validity of the overall list of candidates and the need for the Administrative Committee to re-examine the documentation and adopt a revised list of timely and complete nominations.
We therefore once again call on the Administrative Committee, at its session scheduled for 9 June, to provide all interested candidates and the public with access to the relevant documentation. We also call on both governing and opposition MPs to actively participate in verifying the legality of the procedure before the appointment of RTCG Council members is finalised.
Given that the adoption of the media laws was one of the key conditions for Montenegro receiving a positive IBAR assessment, we expect EU institutions to devote full attention to this process and insist on respect for the principles of the rule of law, transparency, and the independence of the public broadcaster. This is also a matter of the EU’s own credibility, which the parliamentary majority is currently treating with a concerning degree of irresponsibility.
Goran Đurović, Media Center
Olivera Nikolić, Montenegro Media Institute (IMCG)
Daliborka Uljarević, Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
Milka Tadić Mijović, Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG)
Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights Action (HRA)
Darko Ivanović, NGO 35mm
Zdravko Janjušević, Bijelo Polje Democratic Centre
Nataša Nelević, NOVA – Center for Feminist Culture
Zorana Marković, Centre for Development of Non-Governmental Organisations (CRNVO)
Nevenka Vuksanović, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
Maja Raičević, Women’s Rights Center
Budislavka Mira Saveljić, Shelter
Muamera Muslić, NGO Djakomo Adriatic
Boris Nedović, NGO Centre of the North
Marina Vujačić, Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG)
Nataša Međedović, SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Nikšić
Radomir Kračković, Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
Aida Perović, NGO Prima
Ivana Vujović, Juventas