Montenegro and France continue to advance judicial cooperation

Podgorica, Montenegro (9 May 2012) – Following the French presidential elections, the country's foreign policy when it comes to the Balkans will continue to be supportive, Eric Fournier, Director of the Continental Europe Department at the French Foreign Ministry, said at the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and Human Rights Duško Marković.

DPM Marković praised on that occasionthe results of the Twinning project on the enforcement of the Code of Criminal Procedure, financed by the European Union in partnership with French Agency for International Legal Cooperation.

As to the continuation and strengthening bilateral judicial cooperation, the two officials exchanged views on the Joint Statement that the Montenegrin Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has sent to the French Ministry. They agreed that the signing of that kind of a memorandum would be useful not only for better exchange of information related to judicial cooperation, but also in terms of sharing experience and developing training programmes for judges and prosecutors.

The meeting also discussed the overall legislation reform in Montenegro and the mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the newly adopted legislation.

The French official in particular commended the Montenegrin Government's close cooperation with the experts of the Venice Commission in order to fully harmonise constitutional judicial amendments with the best international standards.