EU membership is Government's priority

The priority of the 43rd Government of Montenegro is to strengthen our European path, fulfill EU recommendations and join the EU as soon as possible, said Minister of the Interior Filip Adžić opening the initial meeting of the European Commission's Peer Review Mission on fight against corruption and organised crime.

He pointed out that progress had been made in the previous period, but that he expected an even stronger fight against corruption and crime in the coming period.

After the past few months, there are no more "untouchables" in Montenegro. What was unthinkable half a year or two years ago is happening today. We arrested the president of the Supreme Court, the president of the Commercial Court, police officials, the Property Administration officials, leaders and high-ranking members of organised criminal groups, the Minister said.

It is clear that the fight has started at all levels and we will continue it in the next period, Adžić said and stressed results achieved by the Police Directorate.

The Minister pointed out that the cooperation between the institutions dealing with the fight against organised crime and corruption is at a high level, but that there is room for progress. He highlighted good cooperation with the EU institutions, thanks to which significant results have been achieved.

This is a unique opportunity for Montenegro to make an additional effort to accelerate progress towards EU membership. The Ministry of the Interior and the Police Directorate will do their best to help Montenegro become the first next member of the EU, said Adžić.

Minister of Justice Marko Kovač said that the Government's goal is faster and more efficient process of accession to the European Union and expressed belief that all institutions are aware of the challenges ahead.

Montenegro must continue reforms. Not only because of the annual reports on Montenegro's progress towards the European Union. Not because we want to turn the interim benchmarks into final ones and reduce the number of recommendations for improving our system. Montenegro must continue reforms because of us and the future of the society, which cannot exist without the rule of law, said Kovač.

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Riccardo Serri said the expert mission would last four days, during which experts from EU member states would meet with representatives of the judiciary and police, and discuss Montenegro's capacity to act in cases of high-level corruption and organised crime.

This mission is an opportunity to assess the progress made and give new expert recommendations, which should serve as a direction for Montenegro to further strengthen its approach in the fight against organised crime and corruption, said Serri.