Roundtable discussion on draft law on media organized with the support of OSCE Mission to Montenegro

Free and independent media are a cornerstone of every democratic society, said Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro Maryse Daviet, opening a roundtable discussion on the country’s draft law on media on 22 February 2019 in Podgorica.

The discussion was organized by Montenegro’s Ministry of Culture, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Council of Europe and the European Union Delegation to Montenegro.

“Journalists must be able to work in a safe environment, protected by a legislative framework that protects their rights to report objectively, without fear of repercussions,” said Daviet.

She welcomed Montenegro’s commitment to follow best practices and harmonize its legislation with the European Union’s Acquis. “This process of harmonizing the media law has the full support of the OSCE Mission,” said Daviet.

Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović said that the Government of Montenegro, in co-operation with the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Commission, began reviewing media legislation aimed at strengthening media regulation as one of the pillars of democracy.

“The Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Culture advocates the freedom of expression and information as fundamental human rights through the free and independent media guaranteed by law,” said  Bogdanović. “It advocates the protection of journalists, the protection of pluralism and the diversity of media through the establishment of the Fund for the Protection of Pluralism.”

Support to the process of drafting the country’s media law has also been provided by the embassies of Italy, Slovakia, Albania and Romania.