Justice Minister Zoran Pažin meets with media representatives

Podgorica, Montenegro (26 December 2016) – Justice Minister Zoran Pažin met earlier today with representatives of the Montenegrin media to presenting the results of the Ministry of Justice achieved in 2016.

On this occasion, Minister Pažin thanked the media for their contribution and the high-quality cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, which resulted in the recognition of the achieved results of the Ministry of Justice by the Montenegrin public.

Minister Pažin stressed the importance of all the activities the Ministry of Justice has conducted in the past. Taking into account the complexity of the reform process in Montenegro and the importance of the efforts of all relevant institutions, particularly in the field of rule of law, he noted that efforts made in the past have resulted in measurable results, particularly in improving the normative legal framework. In that regard, he underlined the need for quality implementation of these laws, especially in the field of confiscation of criminal assets.

Justice Minister presented the most important activities of the Ministry of Justice carried out during 2016, in particular referring to the preparation and adoption of a set of laws and regulations and the adoption of the EU acquis in order to strengthen the autonomy and independence of the judiciary and Prosecutor’s Office. It is important to build a modern justice information system, he noted, and adopt the ICT Justice Strategy 2016-2020 and Action Plan for its implementation, which must meet all the identified criteria, but which also has instruments that will facilitate its further development in terms of upgrading the existing framework and be in accordance with future user’ needs.

In the area of international legal cooperation, efforts should be focused on the Draft law on Ratification of the Agreement on Cooperation between Montenegro and EUROJUST, which is in the parliamentary procedure, which can result in creating conditions for Montenegro to become part of the EU integrated justice system.

Regarding to the system of execution of criminal sanctions, Minister Pažin presented the results of the Ministry of Justice and the Institute for Execution of Criminal Sanctions in the field of application of the standards of the Council of Europe and the United Nations in legislation and practice, as well as concrete results achieved in terms of improving conditions in prisons, with special emphasis on the alternative sanctions, particularly community service penalties. Special attention in the coming period will be paid to the strengthening of the Parole Directorate at the Ministry of Justice.

Media representatives voiced interest in many topics including: the institute of mediation, effective use of the plea agreement and a security aspect in prisons, as well as new amendments to the Criminal Code, particularly in the area of criminal offenses related to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Minister Pažin also presented the priorities in legislative, institutional and administrative terms, the Ministry of Justice will be devoted in the time to come.

Both sides pointed out the progress in making the state institutions more open to the public, but also the improvements in the quality of media reporting. They agreed that it is necessary to work on a culture of dialogue in order to further improve the environment in which the results and events are presented in a professional and objective manner, while protecting human rights and freedoms as fundamental values of a democratic society.