Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, presented awards to the authors of the best journalistic stories submitted to the competition organized by the Ministry of European Affairs as part of the “28 to 28” campaign, with support from the European Union through the EU4ME project.
The aim of the campaign is to bring citizens closer to the importance and tangible benefits of closing negotiation chapters in Montenegro’s EU accession process. This year, special focus was placed on the chapters closed at the end of 2024 – Intellectual Property Law (Chapter 7), Information Society and Media (Chapter 10), and Entrepreneurship and Industrial Policy (Chapter 20), as well as the anticipated closing of Chapter 5 – Public Procurement.
Based on the evaluation of a professional jury composed of representatives from the Ministry of European Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Media, and members of the media community, the awards were granted as follows:
First Prize: Danijela Lasica (TV Vijesti), for a story on intellectual property protection following the closing of Chapter 7.
Second Prize: Svetlana Mandić (ND Vijesti), for a story on entrepreneurship and industrial policy in the context of Chapter 20.
Third Prize: Danica Janković (TV Nova), for a story on the importance of closing Chapter 7, illustrated through practical examples.
Minister Gorčević emphasized the importance of such initiatives in bringing European integration closer to the public.
“We are aware that the European path often seems abstract, technical, and administrative. That’s precisely why competitions like this are especially important, as they encourage journalists to present, through authentic stories, how European values and standards reflect in the life of the ordinary person – from copyright protection and digital security to enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic economy,” the minister said.
The award recipients expressed gratitude for the recognition, stressing that such awards are a motivation for continued work and an affirmation of journalism that promotes knowledge, development, and quality of life.
Journalists from local and national media – television, radio, print, and online – were eligible to apply with stories published between April 22 and June 6, 2025. This year’s awarded stories clearly demonstrated how European integration affects everyday life – through topics such as copyright protection, support for entrepreneurs, and alignment with European regulations. Through their journalistic work, the real effects of the changes Montenegro is implementing on its path to EU membership were brought closer to the citizens.