Centre for Civic Education (CCE) welcomes the decision of the Faculty of Philology of the University of Montenegro, which upheld CCE’s appeal and finally submitted complete data on the salaries of academic staff, including the names and surnames of employees. In doing so, the Faculty of Philology joins those faculties that have already acted in accordance with the law, and the blacklist of non-transparency at the UoM is shrinking.
We remind that the Law on Free Access to Information clearly stipulates that restrictions on access for the purpose of protecting privacy do not apply to information concerning funds allocated from public revenues. Since the salaries of academic staff at the UoM are paid from the budget of Montenegro, their disclosure or publication is not a matter of goodwill on the part of management, but a legal obligation and a minimum standard of accountability to the public.
CCE previously pointed out that the majority of faculties and the Rectorate of the UoM conceal salary data, which is unlawful. Moreover, this is problematic not only from the perspective of compliance with the law, but also in relation to the values that the academic community and its leaders should promote and pass on to younger generations. A university cannot credibly teach responsibility, integrity, and the public interest while simultaneously concealing information on the spending of public funds.
It is particularly important that this issue is being raised at a time when European standards are moving towards greater salary transparency. In this regard, EU Directive 2023/970 introduces mandatory pay transparency measures, and Member States are required to transpose it into their national legislation by 7 June 2026. Given that Montenegro is on an accelerated path towards the EU, it is expected to adapt swiftly to the new EU regulatory framework.
CCE once again calls on the Faculty of Political Science, the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Faculty of Maritime Studies, the Faculty of Philosophy, the Music Academy, the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, as well as the Rectorate of the UoM, to provide the data in full without further delay, as clearly required by law.
Jovana Radulović, Programme Associate