he EUR 1.24 million project aims to contribute towards an independent and effective Montenegrin public broadcasting service for the benefit of an open and democratic society.

The project will also improve the production and supply of quality news and other programs to better serve the public’s interests with the provision of a modern, computerised newsroom. This will enable TVCG to strengthen its capacity to produce better quality news and other public service programming and enhancing the knowledge and skills of TVCG staff to effectively use the new digital technology in television programme production.

To mark the studio’s launch, the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Ambassador Leopold Maurer said that the EU is providing more than €3 million worth of IPA assistance.

“Our support is focusing on implementing the legal framework, the Digital Switchover Strategy for Montenegro and providing the necessary technical equipment for the digitalisation. The EU supports a fast transition to digital broadcasting systems,” Mr Maurer said.

He noted that the Commission expects the changeover to digital broadcasting to be well advanced in the EU as a whole by the end of 2010 and a deadline of 2012 has been set for completion of the transition.

“Montenegro's strategy is in line with the European Union in this area. Public service broadcasting is one of the key elements of the so called "media democracy" which promotes a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of society, and enhances democratic values,” Ambassador Maurer concluded.

RTVCG’s Director General Mr Branko Vojicic said that this was the first “concrete donation besides experts’ RTVCG had received since 2002 when the radio and television station was officially and legally transformed into a public broadcaster.

“This kind of support is of great significance for us. I am aware that this is a small step, but for us it represents a great step and I hope it will not stop here, “Mr. Vojicic said.

He also noted that RTVCG was not able to finance development projects from its own financial sources due to a lack of resourses.