History

In accordance with the commitment and strategic interests of Montenegro for inclusion in the integration processes within the European Union, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Montenegro has intensified work on the implementation of the project of its own Border Security System. By the conclusion of the Supreme Council of Defence of the then state union of Serbia and Montenegro at its 9th session held on 27^th December 2002, the transfer of competencies in securing the state border was considered and the Federal Ministry of Defence was instructed to form a Mixed Expert Team of representatives of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Montenegro, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia and the Army of Serbia and Montenegro in order to prepare the Draft Law on State Border and Project of transfer of competencies in securing the state border.

At the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Montenegro, the Supreme Defence Council of the then State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, at its 5th session held on 10^th June 2003 adopted a Decision that the Army of Serbia and Montenegro should hand over to the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Montenegro the tasks of securing the state border in Montenegro. By taking over the security of the state border from the Army of Serbia and Montenegro, the generally accepted standards in this area have been respected - that border security is under civilian control.

By taking over the security of the state border, conditions have been created for:

• Respect for the principles of the European Union, in the field of border security;
• Efficient manner of border control, with the application of appropriate police methodology and the most modern technical tools;
• Engaging a smaller number of executors in state border surveillance, with the application of adequate technical tools;
• Two basic subsystems have been merged: state border surveillance (security) and border checks (state border crossing control) into an integrated border management system;
• More efficient cooperation with the border services of neighbouring countries has been achieved;
• The level of suppression and detection of all forms of cross-border crime has increased especially illegal migration, human smuggling, drugs, weapons and terrorism.
• Freedom of movement has improved.