DPM and Justice Minister Pažin participates in EU – Western Balkans JHA Ministerial Forum

Sofia, Bulgaria (26 October 2017) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Zoran Pažin participated today in the work of the EU – Western Balkan Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs, at the invitation of Estonian Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu. The Forum, which takes place on 26 and 27 October in Sofia, Republic of Bulgaria, is organised within Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the support and the household of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Addressing the ministers and representatives of the European Union’s relevant agencies, DPM Pažin emphasised that the establishment of an independent, professional and efficient judiciary is a condition sine qua non of the European integration of each state, including Montenegro. DPM Pažin noted that Montenegro normatively rounded up its judicial system through a set of judicial organisational laws, which were adopted in 2015 and 2016. Also, he added that Montenegro introduced a unique system of election of judges and state prosecutors for the whole country, as well as a new system of promotion based on periodic work assessments. These systems are designed to be transparent, based on work results and aiming at applying objective criteria.

In the part of the discussion on international legal cooperation, DPM Pažin stated that Montenegro devotes full attention to the continuous strengthening of judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters with the countries of the region, as well as the member states of the European Union. In this respect, he informed his counterparts about the drafting of the Law on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters with the Member States of the European Union, as well as the activities implemented by Montenegro as a member of a key associations and networks of European Union cooperation in this field.

Estonian Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu emphasised the importance of open and partnership cooperation between the countries of the region and the member states of the European Union, announcing that Estonia, during its presidency, carried out the activities that can contribute to such cooperation. He stressed the importance of open discussion and action to strengthen accountability in the judiciary, with a special emphasis on combating corruption when it comes to the holders of judicial functions.

European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova said that the process of European integration of each state requires the implementation of judicial reform in accordance with the rule of law, which is common denominator of the European Union. She conveyed the message of the Union’s commitment to the enlargement process and support in implementing the necessary reforms to meet European standards.

The host of the event, Minister of Justice of Bulgaria Tsetska Tsacheva, said that one of the key priorities of Bulgaria’s presidency of the EU Council will be the EU’s enlargement policy to the Western Balkans. In this context, she announced the holding of a conference of leaders of the member states of the European Union and the Western Balkans during 2018, with a basic emphasis on the issue of the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans.