DPM Koprivica meets with President of the Municipality of Rožaje

Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary, and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica met with President of the Municipality of Rožaje Rahman Husović, during an official visit to the municipality. The meeting was also attended by Hermin Šabotić, Secretary of the Prosecutorial Council Secretariat, Aldin Kalač, Head of the Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Rožaje, as well as senior officials of the municipality and associates of the President of the Municipality.

In addition to discussing key areas of cooperation between the Government and the Municipality aimed at improving the quality of life and overall environment, the talks emphasized the need to enhance the working conditions of judicial institutions in Rožaje. Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica, Municipality President Husović, and representatives of the prosecution agreed that all institutions share a common interest in systematically and proactively working together to create the conditions for the efficient and professional functioning of judicial institutions. They acknowledged that the current conditions are inadequate.

A major focus of the discussions was on resolving the spatial capacity challenges of the Basic Prosecutor's Office in Rožaje, modernizing its facilities, and aligning them with contemporary standards and the specific needs of prosecutorial work. The meeting also explored potential measures to attract qualified personnel, particularly young and educated legal professionals, to judicial institutions in northern Montenegro, with a special focus on Rožaje.

Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica commended the efforts of the Municipality of Rožaje to support these initiatives and highlighted the legislative changes introduced in June, which include provisions for training programmes to be conducted in local areas, rather than exclusively in the capital city. These changes, along with improvements to the financial and material conditions, represent initial incentives to engage skilled personnel in the judiciary. He also announced plans for a set of additional measures to systematically address the issue of low interest in judicial careers in northern Montenegro.

This longstanding challenge, stemming from years of neglect and poor planning, is particularly evident in the fact that many courts and prosecutor's offices in the north currently operate with only one judge or prosecutor and minimal support staff. This issue is especially acute in Rožaje.

The Government of Montenegro is taking concrete steps and planning additional systemic mechanisms to encourage skilled professionals to join judicial institutions in the north. Alongside the provision of modern facilities, these initiatives represent crucial projects to strengthen the capacities of the judiciary and enhance its effectiveness in underserved regions.