DPM Markovic opens round table “Rule of Law and Fight against Corruption and Organised Crime”

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Dusko Markovic opened the round table “Rule of Law and Fight against Corruption and Organised Crime,” as part of the public debate on the Draft Action Plan for Monitoring Implementation of Recommendations given in European Commission’s Opinion

In his opening speech, the DPM remarked that the setting of the date for EU accession talks partly depends on the outcome of this debate. This Action Plan, he noted, is a document of great long-term importance, as it opens a new page of European commitment for Montenegro, which is at the same time an imperative of the domestic policy that corresponds to the needs of the Montenegrin society.

DPM Markovic underlined that even though it is still in draft format, the Action Plan is already producing results in the areas of rule of law and fight against crime and corruption – in his view the most important of the EC recommendations .

He remarked that the extradition statistics clearly show that Montenegro is not a haven for criminals nor it will ever be, but stressed that it has to improve the existing and introduce new mechanisms for fighting organised crime and corruption and produce fresh results. In this respect, he emphasised the importance of cooperation with neighbouring countries: “Regional and international cooperation is a precondition for efficient fight against organised crime and corruption.” He also announced a SEECP conference on the same topic in the near future.

DPM Markovic stressed the importance of a new ally in this endeavour – the civil society, and in particular the National Commission for Fight against Corruption and Organised Crime, adding that this kind of cooperation would bring about a “synergy of societal resources” to best tackle these issues. He made a point of saying that he welcomes good counsel from all stakeholders, and he promised to include them in the final version of the Action Plan.