Legal conditions for boosting results in combating corruption, organised crime created, Minister Pažin stresses

Podgorica, Montenegro (3 April 2015) -- Recent adoption of systemic laws in the area of justice has formed a basis for boosting the relevant institutions' initial track record in combating corruption and organised crime, Montenegro's Justice Minister Zoran Pažin noted at today's meeting with Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Mitja Drobnič.

Minister Pažin informed Mr Drobnič about the activities towards establishing the Special Public Prosecutor's Office, implementing the Law on Prevention of Corruption, creating conditions for the start of work of the Anti-Corruption Agency and developing the legal framework for seizing the proceeds of crime. He also announced that the Code of Civil Procedure, Arbitration Act and amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code will be adopted soon as well. 

Ambassador Drobnič said the current year is the year of strengthening institutional capacity, with the view to developing mechanisms of the state so that it can independently tackle challenges on its path towards the EU membership. He added that, as the negotiations process progress, the accesssion negotiations will be more technical, and recommendations more detailed. 

The meeting also discussed the instruments for pre-accession assistance to EU candidate countries. In that context, the two officials placed a particular emphasis on the need to strengthen the state's absorption capacity and its strategic approach to projects, thus enabling the country to fully benefit from the IPA funds in the early stage of the accession process.