Government officials emphasise role of media and civil society in obtaining European standards

“Our relations with the media and the civil society will be the measure of our advancement towards Brussels and of the democratic rise of Montenegrin society,” Foreign and European Integration Minister Milan Rocen stated at the round table “Media and Civil Society” held as part of the public debate on the Draft Action Plan for Monitoring Implementation of Recommendations given in European Commission’s Opinion.

Minister Rocen pointed out that the Ministry coordinates all activities undertaken in the integration process, including the drafting of the Action Plan and the organisation of four round tables on this subject. “In the last two days, we heard plenty of good suggestions for the innovation of the Action plan in regard to state administration reform, rule of law and fight against corruption and organised crime. Many see these issues as ‘to be or not to be’ of further Montenegrin progress towards the EU. I believe they are right, but I would stress the role of the media and the civil society as equally significant, as they have contributed appreciably during this public debate,” Minister Rocen highlighted.

Culture and Media Minister Branislav Micunovic, who also took part at the round table, pointed out that the need for public and open cooperation on issues of common importance will inevitably rise during the EU integration process, and in this respect the media have a critical role in providing objective, impartial and correct information on what the European integration process brings to Montenegrin citizens and how it improves their everyday life.

Montenegro has in a relatively short period of time taken important steps in coming closer to European standards in terms of media pluralism, the Culture Minister said, referring to the announced legal solutions such as decriminalisation of defamation and state aid measures to electronic media that would create “an environment of sustainable pluralism of the media system.”

Furthermore, in the context of fulfilling recommendations given in the European Commission Analytical Report, Minister Micunovic expects the media self regulation principles to be empowered on the basis of an ethical code and professional dignity as well as through their programmes and pluralist society orientation.

Open dialogue, cooperation with both the civil society and media professionals, as Minister Micunovic concluded, must be the central principles of successful, swift and democratic reform of the media system, to which the Government remains fully dedicated.