Non-governmental organizations that have previously supported, and continue to firmly stand behind the candidacy of Dragoljub Duško Vuković for membership in the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services (AMU) express serious concern over the recent statement by MP Jelena Nedović, from PES, who actually suggested that the Council should have a politically suitable representative from the NGO sector. Such a position demonstrates that the parliamentary majority is attempting to politically capture one of the key institutions of the media system, in violation of the law and European standards.
We remind that the media laws adopted in June 2024, as part of the so-called IBAR package, established the foundation for a professional and independent Agency, a step recognized by the European Commission through the provisional closure of Chapter 10 – Information Society and Media. In its report, the European Commission clearly stated that the process of appointing Council members must be swift, transparent, and free from political influence, and that no amendments undermining the independence of the AMU and RTCG will be tolerated. This position by Brussels also reflects and supports the initiative of over 100 NGOs which, six months ago, warned against government attempts to gain full control over the Councils of AMU and RTCG through legislative changes.
The candidate proposed by independent media NGOs, Dragoljub Duško Vuković, is recognized as a professional with integrity and a long-standing commitment to defending the public interest. He remains the candidate until the process is concluded in accordance with the law. We regret that the authorities, instead of demonstrating the responsibility expected of a state in the final stage of accession negotiations, are repeating patterns of political control over institutions, the very same patterns that, not long ago, we jointly criticized when employed by the previous government.
We call on the parliamentary majority to immediately end the obstruction that has lasted for 15 months and to enable a transparent, lawful, and fair selection of AMU Council members. This also means fully respecting the autonomy of the authorized nominators – non-governmental organizations, Montenegrin Academy of Science and Arts and the PEN Center – to independently decide who represents them in the Council. Only in that manner, it is possible to ensure an independent and functional Agency, crucial for media development, the protection of the public interest, and Montenegro’s progress toward EU membership.
In order to preserve our integrity and out of respect for our candidate, Dragoljub Duško Vuković, we state clearly that we will not engage in any bargaining with MPs. We believe that his experience and professionalism guarantee that the AVMS Council will remain independent from party pressure, in line with the law and European values. For MPs who place the public interest above narrow party goals, that should be reason enough to vote in his favour.
Goran Đurović, Media Center
Olivera Nikolić, Montenegro Media Institute (MMI)
Daliborka Uljarević, Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
Milka Tadić Mijović, Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIN-CG)
Mila Radulović, Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro
Mustafa Canka, NGO “Ul Info”
Zdravko Janjušević, Bijelo Polje Democratic Center
Željko Đukić, NGO Multimedial Montenegro
Nataša Nelević, NOVA – Center for Feminist Culture
Muamera Muslić, NGO Đakomo Adriatic
Boris Nedović, NGO Center of the North
Radomir Petrić, NGO Sua Sponte Bar