28 July 2019 - The current activities of state bodies in improving media legislation and the safety of journalists represent a significant contribution to strengthening media freedom in Montenegro, it was concluded at the second session of the Rule of Law Council held recently in Podgorica.
The quick reaction of the Montenegrin police and decisive response to recent threats posed to journalist of Vijesti Samir Adrović, as well as ongoing activities in other cases in this area, send a clear message that the State will not tolerate any form of violence against journalists, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Rule of Law Council Zoran Pažin stressed, as his Office reported.
"It is very important that we quickly and decisively respond to these threats and demonstrate the State's determination to protect the safety and personal integrity of journalists effectively. I am convinced that the State's response to threats is the best prevention of the violence itself," DPM Pažin said.
The Council concluded that the level of progress Montenegro has made in the area of the rule of law since the beginning of the EU accession negotiations process requires an innovative approach in reporting to citizens and international partners on the results in fulfilling obligations under chapters 23 and 24. To that end, unique information on Montenegro's achieved results since the opening of negotiations in Chapters 23 and 24 to date, both in the field of media and in other priority areas of the rule of law, needs to be prepared.
The Rule of Law Council, chaired by DPM Pažin, consists of heads of the judiciary, prosecutors, government and independent institutions in charge of the rule of law issues. The task of the Rule of Law Council is to monitor the implementation of obligations under chapters 23 and 24 in the process of Montenegro's accession to the European Union, as well as to make recommendations to the competent institutions for urgent action in order to fulfill these obligations. According to the Government's decision of 13 June 2019, a new Council was established with fewer members and a focus on concrete results in meeting the conditions of the negotiation process and further strengthening of the rule of law in Montenegro.
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