Minister Đurović submits to EU Delegation strategy and action plans for the fight against corruption and organised crime

The Montenegrin government formally submitted to the EU Delegation to Montenegro its Strategy and Action plan to combat corruption and organised crime. These are key documents in the country’s plans for accession to the EU.

Minister for European Integration, prof.dr Gordana Đurović met today Head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador Leopold Maurer, and on that occasion, submitted the Strategy for fight against corruption and organized crime for period 2010 – 2014, and the action plan for its realization for the first two years of its implementation.

Minister Đurović stressed importance of adoption of the Strategy and the Action Plan, first of all for Montenegro, but also for dynamic in European integration process. „The goal of this Strategy is to create conditions for the prevention and sanctioning of corruption and organized crime at all levels through further development of institutional framework, efficient criminal prosecution and final adjudication, prevention, education, and a monitoring system in place for the implementation of the Strategy and its Action Plan“, Đurović emphasized.

“The fight against organised crime and corruption is the first priority in the area of political criteria in the EU integration process” Ambassador Maurer said. “A country wishing to join the EU needs to have an appropriate legal and institutional setup, effective preventive and law enforcement bodies, as well as an independent judiciary and prosecution. Progress in regard to the legal framework and the institutional set up has been made but further decisive action needs to be taken. The European Commission will give its assessment on the documents as part of the European Commission's Opinion on Montenegro's application for EU membership in autumn. ”

Emphasising the key role of state institutions, as having primary responsibility in the fight against organised crime and corruption, Ambassador Maurer also pointed out the important role of civil society organisations and the media. Only by working together in a constructive manner will the fight against organised crime and corruption become fully effective, he stressed.

It was jointly concluded that it is necessary to set up solid track record of convictions in criminal cases with elements of corruption, as well as to undertake all necessary activities and measures, already at this stage in the integration process.

The Government of Montenegro will deliver to the European Commission Factual Report on progress achieved, per future negotiating chapters, in the European integration process, by 6 September 2010, the latest.