Please note: The page below represents the archived content relating to the previous Government of Montenegro. Some of the information might be inaccurate or outdated.
Archive

New energy and focus of all branches of government and independent institutions is needed for final phase of EU negotiations

Published on: Jul 1, 2019 10:42 PM Author: PR Service
All branches of government and independent institutions must invest new energy and maximize focus on fulfilling concrete commitments in order to further strengthen the rule of law, so that Montenegro receives the final criteria for negotiation chapters 23 and 24 as soon as possible, it was noted at the constitutive session of the Rule of Law Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pažin.

Presenting the methodology of the work of the new Council, DPM Pažin emphasised the importance of quickly achieving concrete results in the field of combating corruption and organized crime, trafficking in human beings, money laundering, seizure of property acquired through crime, strengthening the integrity of institutions and other important issues in the field of rule of law.

"All Montenegrin institutions must show their readiness and knowledge to fulfill in the short term everything that the European Commission recommends that it is necessary to do to obtain the final benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24," the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

Only through quick and convincing results in these areas, he added, Montenegro can shortly enter into the conclusion of EU negotiations, which implies meeting the conditions for final closing of the chapter in the field of the rule of law.

DPM Pažin said that the further strengthening of the rule of law is first of all necessity for Montenegro's overall economic and social progress, and only then a condition for further progress in European integration.

"We must be aware that the progress we made in building a more just and secure society was the backbone of all the successes Montenegro has achieved on the domestic and international agenda since the restoration of independence. It is clear that without serious results in strengthening the rule of law Montenegro would not be a NATO member today, nor one of the fastest growing European economies," he said.

This progress of Montenegrin society, he added, needs to be recognised, but we must not be satisfied with the current level of development of Montenegro, which is only half the average of European development. "Further progress and development of Montenegro must also be based on further strengthening of the rule of law," the Deputy Prime Minister concluded.

The Rule of Law Council, chaired by DPM Pažin, consists of heads of the judiciary, prosecutors, government and independent institutions in charge of rule of law issues. The task of the Rule of Law Council is to monitor the implementation of obligations under chapters 23 and 24 in the process of Montenegro's accession to the European Union, as well as to make recommendations to the competent institutions for urgent action in order to fulfill these obligations. According to the Government's decision of 13 June 2019, a new Council was established with fewer members and a focus on concrete results in meeting the conditions of the negotiation process and further strengthening of the rule of law in Montenegro.
Is this page useful?