BRUSSELS, 30.01.2024. – The strengthening of media regulation must be one of the priorities, it was concluded at yesterday’s Intergovernmental Conference of representatives of the European Union and the Government of Montenegro, headed by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.
The European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelji, referring to the field of media, emphasized that there is still no media regulation, but he also mentioned the appointment in the Radio and Television Council of Montenegro and the need to strengthen its independence.
It is not the first time that criticism has come from European addresses against the Public Service Council due to the re-election of Boris Raonic as the general director of that media company.
The Council’s decision to re-elect Raonic, despite the final verdict of the High Court in Podgorica, which states that Raonic could not be elected as a director because he was in a conflict of interest, was also noted in last year’s European Commission Report on Montenegro’s progress.
“In June 2023, the Council reappointed the same person as RTCG Director-General, causing a strong public reaction from multiple CSOs, which accused the RTCG Council of abuse of office and failure to comply with a final and enforceable court decision. The prosecution authorities opened a criminal investigation into the case“, it is stated in the report.
After the Council’s decision, the Special Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation due to suspicion of the criminal offense of abuse of official position, but, as of now, there is no legal conclusion.