EU's Cecilia Malmström: Opening of negotiating chapters 23 and 24 creates new impetus for EU-Montenegro partnership

Budva, Montenegro (19 December 2013) -- Montenegro has valorised its efforts in the area of strengthening the rule of law by opening the negotiating chapters 23 and 24, thus creating a new impetus for its partnership with the EU. Also, it will be an additional incentive for Montenegro to meet the requirements set out in the action plans for these chapters, Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, told Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Duško Marković, and Minister of the Interior Raško Konjević at the meeting which was held on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum in Budva earlier today.

Deputy Prime Minister Marković informed the EU official about Montenegro’s priorities in the field of rule of law, judicial reform and fight against organised crime and corruption in 2014.

“The next year will be particularly challenging in terms of strengtening Montenegro’s administrative capacities, but also the year in which citizens will directly benefit from meeting the obligations from the action plans in the fields of judicial reform and fundamental human rights, as well as justice, freedom and security.

Regarding the fight against organised crime and corruption, DPM Marković explained the concept of establishing a Special Prosecutor's Office and the institutional concentration of responsibilities in this field.

Interior Minister Raško Konjević noted Montenegro is ready to enter a new, more demand phase of the negotiation process, especially emphasising the track record the Interior Ministry has developed before the formal opening of the negotiating chapters 23 and 24.

"First of all we have opened a shelter for foreigners and we are planning to open an asylum centre as well," he explained. By the same token, Minister Konjević stressed the importance of successful police actions in combating illegal migration, as a challenge that not only the region, but the whole Europe is facing.

Both sides agreed that meeting the integration agenda with planned dynamics will result not only in the county’s progress towards achieving full membership of the EU, but also in gradual transformation of the Montenegrin society.