DPM Pažin, Cantone: Cooperation between Montenegro and Italy will contribute to fight against corruption

PHOTO: DPM Zoran Pažin meets with President of Italian National Anticorruption Authority Raffaele Cantone

Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Internal and Foreign Policy Zoran Pažin hosted today President of Italian National Anticorruption Authority Raffaele Cantone.

Assessing the current cooperation between Montenegro and Italy very positively, DPM Pažin expressed satisfaction that Italy was selected as a Twinning Partner for the implementation of the project "Support Implementation of Integrity Measures". The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the current results of Italian Anticorruption Authority, led by Mr Cantone, are a clear sign that the realisation of the joint project will produce concrete results and contribute to strengthening the capacities of Montenegrin institutions in the field of integrity, protection of whistleblowers and lobbying.

Mr Cantone said that Italian National Anticorruption Authority was honored to have the opportunity through its experts to support the strengthening of the capacity of Montenegrin institutions in preventing corruption. Cantone expressed confidence that the project will result in clear recommendations and measures that will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the Montenegrin Agency for Prevention of Corruption and other competent bodies in the fight against corruption. He also emphasised the expected results in training officers for monitoring integrity measures, as well as identification of concrete measures aimed at strengthening the whistleblower protection system, and creating conditions for the adequate implementation of the Law on Lobbying.

It was jointly noted that there is space for expanding the scope of cooperation between national anticorruption agencies, which was opened by the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in that field in 2015. In this context, the importance of networking of the competent institutions of the two countries is particularly important in order to exchange operational information of importance for the fight against organised crime and corruption.