Brussels: Interior Minister Konjević meets representatives of European Parliament and Director General of OLAF

Brussels, Belgium (13 November 2014) – During his official visit to Brussels, Interior Minister Raško Konjević met with Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee Anneliese Dodds, EU rapporteur on Montenegro Charles Tannoc and Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) Giovanni Kessler.

The meeting with Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee Anneliese Dodds underlined the European MPs' willingness to understand dynamics of resolving the identified issues and challenges that Montenegro is dealing with on its path towards the EU.

Minister Konjević informed Ms Doods about the implementation of the measures within the chapters 23 and 24, adding that Montenegro will reach measurable results in the rule of law in the coming years.

Minister Konjević also met with the EU rapporteur on Montenegro Charles Tannoc for talks on the implementation of the requirements arising from the European agenda, particularly when it comes to the fight against corporation.

The two officials agreed that strengthening the rule of law as a key precondition for the progress in the negotiation process will help Montenegro overcome challenges of its European accession process.

Minister Konjević ended his visit by meeting with Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) Giovanni Kessler, with whom he discussed the possibility for cooperation between the Montenegrin rule of law-related institutions and the specialised agency which deals with protection of the EU financial interests.

There is also space for launching joint investigations in the areas related to the OLAF’s competence, as well as providing OLAF's expert support to Montenegro's institutions in order to strengthen their capacities to combat financial crime, the meeting concluded.