Sofia: More Intensive Cooperation Between the Western Balkan Countries and the EU in the area of Crime and Border Potection

Montenegrin Interior Minister Mevludin Nuhodzic participated today in Sofia at an informal meeting of interior ministers of the Western Balkan Countries, within the Bulgarian presidency of the EU.

A meeting organized by Bulgarian Interior Minister Valentin Radev was an opportunity to exchange views on activities defined by the Western Balkans Transformation Action Plan for the period 2018-2020.

Speaking about the recently announced Strategy for a credible prospect of enlargement and enhanced cooperation with the Western Balkans, Minister Nuhodzic announced that Montenegro is committed to continuing reforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacities in the rule of law, as well as in the field of security and migration.

In the following, he emphasized that the Montenegrin Government strongly supports all efforts that the European Union undertakes to provide support to the countries of the Western Balkans. In that regard, Nuhodžić pointed out the importance of more intensive cooperation in the field of cybercrime, trafficking in human beings, smuggling of migrants, and illicit trafficking in weapons, since these crimes usually contain elements of organization and transnational character. He also positively assessed the EU's initiative to strengthen the presence of specialized agencies in the field of the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Regarding the suppression of illegal migration, Nuhodžić said that it is necessary to harmonize the legal framework with the acquis of the EU and further strengthen human and technical resources for more effective control of the state border and control of the movement of foreigners.

"I am convinced that the strengthened cooperation between the countries of the Region and the European Union will give a significant contribution to stability and security in the Balkans as well as in Europe," concluded Minister Nuhodzic.