Agreement on cooperation between Montenegro and Eurojust signed in Brussels

Brussels, Belgium (3 May 2016) -- Agreement on cooperation between Montenegro and the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit (Eurojust) was signed earlier today in Brussels, thus enabling Montenegro to become an integral part of European system of judicial cooperation in the fight against serious cross-border crime.

The agreement was signed at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels by Montenegro’s Justice Minister Zoran Pažin and President of the Eurojust Collegium Michele Coninsx, in the presence of EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova.

"The establishment of contractual relations between Montenegro and Eurojust further advances integration of Montenegro into EU structures and ensures closer cooperation in the fight against cross-border crime with EU member states and other countries that have signed similar agreements with Eurojust," said Minister Pažin following the signing ceremony. He explained that the signing of the agreement also means the achievement of one of the objectives set out in the Action Plan for Chapter 24 - Justice, freedom and security, as well as the Action Plan for the implementation of the Judicial Reform Strategy for the period 2014-2016.

President of the Eurojust Collegium Michele Coninsx noted that the agreement establishes institutional mechanisms for more effective international judicial cooperation in criminal matters and represents the highest level of trust between Montenegro and the EU countries in combating serious forms of cross-border crime. The signing of the agreement, she emphasised, is also an acknowledgement for the hard work of the Montenegrin institutions over the past six years.

Minister Pažin also met in Brussels with European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Ver Jourova for talks on key activities and results Montenegro has achieved in negotiating chapters 23 and 24, as well as in strengthening regional and international judicial cooperation in fighting corruption and crime.

"Signing the agreement on cooperation with Eurojust is another step forward for Montenegro towards achieving objectives in the field of the rule of law within the process of European integration," stressed Commissioner Jourova, voicing the European Commission’s willingness to continue to support Montenegro’s reform efforts.

The agreement defines the scope of cooperation between Montenegro and the Eurojust, competent authorities for its implementation, mechanisms and institutions for cooperation, such as the election of the state prosecutor or magistrate in connection with Eurojust, as well as contact persons, information exchange mechanisms with special emphasis on the issues of privacy and protection of personal data and data security, as well as the relationship of this body with competent authorities of other countries.

Eurojust, a European Union agency for judicial cooperation in criminal matters based in the Hague, was established in 2002 with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of cooperation and coordination between competent authorities of EU member states in investigating and prosecuting serious cross-border and organised crime, as well as improving procedures providing more complex forms of international legal assistance in criminal matters and accelerating extradition procedures.