DPM Koprivica participates in the 13th session of the Assembly of Parties of the International Anti-Corruption Academy

Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Justice, and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica participated in the 13th session of the Assembly of Parties of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna.

On behalf of the Government of Montenegro, Koprivica addressed the Assembly, congratulating newly appointed members and emphasising Montenegro’s strong collaboration with IACA, noting the numerous Montenegrin representatives who have benefited from IACA training programmes.

In our European integration process, we view cooperation with IACA as an added support, particularly for strengthening anti-corruption capacities and mechanisms essential for successfully completing our EU accession negotiations, Koprivica stated.

Reflecting on Montenegro's recent progress, Koprivica highlighted that reforms in anti-corruption and judicial legislation, the adoption of the Anti-Corruption Strategy, and significant improvements in prosecuting high-level corruption and organised crime cases have led to receiving IBAR and a favourable assessment in the European Commission’s progress report on Montenegro."Our goal is to become the EU’s next member by 2028, he added.

According to Koprivica, Montenegro's Anti-Corruption Strategy aims to strengthen integrity and create robust accountability mechanisms, making corruption a high-risk rather than an attractive activity. An effective anti-corruption strategy is key to sustainable economic growth, equal justice, and faith in democracy, Koprivica explained.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that an effective anti-corruption strategy must leverage three core approaches: educational, preventive, and repressive. He underscored the value of IACA’s training programmes, which greatly contribute to building anti-corruption culture, strengthening institutional capacity, and reducing corruption.

Koprivica also proposed exploring collaboration between IACA and a Montenegrin university, aiming to enhance institutional capacity and broaden possibilities within Montenegrin society. The Government will strongly support planning and implementation of this collaboration, he affirmed.

Fighting corruption requires courage, knowledge, and integrity. I am confident that Montenegro and IACA will deepen their cooperation and mutual support, Koprivica concluded.