Podgorica, (MINA) – Certain proposals in the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on National Public Broadcaster RTCG undermine the public broadcaster’s independence, the Human Rights Action (HRA) has stated.
According to the HRA, contrary to relevant European standards, the Draft Law proposes stripping the RTCG of the safeguards of independence.
The NGO proposes that the currently applicable law should remain in effect until the new draft is brought fully in line with European standards.
The HRA argues that under the Draft Law the RTCG Council will no longer be able to oversee program implementation, the responsibility which will be transferred to the independent regulator for electronic media, which will in fact be controlled by the Government.
“The Council members of the Agency for Electronic Media, the only regulator for electronic media, as well as the Agency’s director, will be appointed by the Government, based on the Law on Public Administration which was adopted last November. This way of appointing the Council of the broadcasting regulatory authority is not in line with the EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services,” the HRA stated. Longer version of article is available on a link MINA ENGLISH SERVIS
