Montenegro has entered the final phase of its EU accession path. With closing benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24 set, the European Commission’s 2025 Report confirms the country is “between a moderate and a good level of preparation” and stresses that progress depends on stronger independence, accountability, and transparent communication by the judiciary.
To support these goals, the AIRE Centre, with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom and the British Embassy in Podgorica, held the first workshops in an educational series dedicated to improving communication practices across Montenegro’s highest courts.
The workshops were led by John McManus, Head of External Affairs and Communications at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and a former BBC journalist. His involvement builds on more than a decade of AIRE Centre cooperation with the UK Supreme Court.
“In every jurisdiction, including our own, public trust is not created by rulings alone. Courts must show, through clear and consistent communication, that their decisions are grounded in principle, not pressure. When people understand the reasoning behind judgments, even valid disagreement does not undermine confidence in the institution”, said McManus.
A workshop with the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and Higher Court in Podgorica, headed by President of the Supreme Court Valentina Pavličić, focused on communication practices essential for consistency and professionalism across the judiciary.
“The public has the right to understand how courts operate. In a period of reform, clarity is not optional. If we want citizens to trust the system, we must communicate our work with the same professionalism that we apply in adjudication: factually, responsibly, and without ambiguity”, said President Pavličić.
The workshop dedicated to the Constitutional Court, led by President Snežana Armenko, highlighted the Court’s commitment to transparency. The Court has recently achieved a measurable result by reducing its backlog to no cases older than two years as of November 2025, which is an improvement aligned with EU expectations on performance and public communication.
“For the Constitutional Court, transparency is a safeguard of legitimacy. Citizens must be able to see not only what we decide, but how we approach questions of constitutional importance. Clear communication is essential if we expect the public to rely on us in moments that test the democratic order”, said President Armenko.
Across the workshops, participants worked on practical tools directly linked to the rule-of-law benchmarks: responding to sensitive questions, preventing miscommunication, using social media responsibly, and drafting accurate, accessible press releases.
These activities build on the AIRE Centre’s long-standing support to Montenegro’s judiciary, which has already contributed to more regular publication of information and more professional communication practices.
“Our aim is to ensure that European standards are not simply referenced in strategies, but embedded in everyday institutional practice. Effective communication is part of judicial integrity. It shows the public what progress looks like in real terms, not just in policy documents”, said Martina Raguž, Head of Strategic Engagement and Legal Affairs of the AIRE Centre.
The workshops are held under the Judicial Reform and Dialogue in Support of EU Accession project, supported by the Government of the United Kingdom and the British Embassy in Podgorica.
