“Everything we are monitoring regarding your Public Media Service is contrary to what is prescribed by the European Media Freedom Act,” said Maja Sever, President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), in the main news program 24 Sata on Television E.

She added that the organization reacted due to the highly concerning situation at the public broadcaster, including pressure on trade union members, non-compliance with the law, and failure to monitor and implement the European Media Freedom Act — all with the aim, she stressed, of protecting RTCG and ensuring the survival and strengthening of this key pillar of the media environment in any democratic country.

According to Sever, one of the core priorities of the European Federation of Journalists is the defense of public service media, which are under strong pressure across Europe.

She recalled that trade unions are protected by law, and that pressure on union representatives is in direct contradiction with what the EU requires from member states in the field of social dialogue. She added that EFJ has been monitoring developments at RTCG for a long time, including the situation related to the appointment of the Director General.

“From the activities of the Trade Union, it is very clear that these people are fighting for a fair collective agreement, which has been returned several times due to certain pay disparities. They are offering concrete solutions and concrete proposals on how to conclude a collective agreement that would be harmonized and acceptable. Unfortunately, these efforts are not being met with genuine social dialogue from the other side,” Sever said.

She pointed out that there is an EU directive requiring that 80 per cent of the labor market be covered by collective agreements within the next two years, while at the public broadcaster the signing of a collective agreement is being obstructed.

“We have a situation where the signing of a collective agreement is being prevented at the public media service in a country that is on the path to EU membership. It is evident that the European Media Freedom Act, in particular Article 6, which deals with public service media, is being violated in a country that is in the EU accession process. This is really not good, and we reacted because it is our job to do so,” Sever said.

She added that their role is to warn that laws must be respected, and that the right to trade union activity and the protection of professional and labour rights must be upheld.

“This issue of the situation at the public media service in Montenegro, especially in the context of the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act, is certainly of interest at the European level at this moment,” Sever stressed.

She also expressed surprise at the lack of reaction from the executive authorities regarding the situation at the public broadcaster, particularly in the context of Montenegro’s EU accession process.

“The European Federation of Journalists has written to point once again to the non-compliance with the law, pressure on trade union members, and the failure to monitor and implement the European Media Freedom Act — all ultimately aimed, as we emphasize, at protecting the public media service,” Sever said.

She noted that the European Federation of Journalists represents nearly 300.000 journalists, with 75 member organizations from 45 countries, while the International Federation of Journalists operates globally, with a very large number of affiliated organizations.

“At the European level, in Brussels, we are recognized as a relevant partner in social dialogue. On 24 February, I will participate in a panel on public service media with a senior European Commission official responsible for media policy. From all the addresses we have contacted, it would be reasonable to expect at least some response. Very soon, the European Federation of Journalists will also be coming to your country for the final conference of a major project, and I hope that, if nothing else, we will then have the opportunity to open some of these issues in person. The European Federation of Journalists and I personally will seek some answers and possibly meetings,” Sever said.

She also pointed to a populist trend spreading from the United States to Europe, accompanied by increased attacks on media, media freedoms and media pluralism, as well as the spread of disinformation — trends which, she said, have been recognized by the EU.

“In the previous mandate, and continuing in this one, the European Union has adopted a series of laws aimed at limiting hate speech, protecting media pluralism, and safeguarding the overarching European Media Freedom Act. Europe has recognized these political trends and attacks on independent journalism, and that is why it is introducing legal frameworks and tools to protect professional journalism and public service media. For a country on the path to EU membership, it would be fair and wise to read, implement and apply these laws in its media sector,” Sever concluded.