Podgorica/Brussels, (MINA) – Montenegro has achieved some level of preparation in fight against corruption, and despite limited progress, corruption is still present in many areas and remains an issue for concern, it was stated in the 2019 European Commission’s (EC) Report on Montenegro.
The EC presented in Brussels the Enlargement package for the Western Balkans, including the annual report on Montenegro.
It is stated that, concerning the political criteria, the reporting period continued to be marked by the low level of trust in the electoral framework, which needs to be revised in a comprehensive and inclusive manner.
The report remarks that a temporary parliamentary committee on reform of electoral and other legislation still needs to deliver on its ambitious mandate.
The political scene remains fragmented, polarized and marked by lack of genuine political dialogue.
“Limited progress was made in re-establishing the political dialogue in Parliament with the temporary and partial return of the majority of the opposition parties to Parliament and the establishment of the temporary parliamentary committee”, the document stated, adding that the allegations of corruption and illegal political party financing (the ‘envelope affair’) triggered mobilization of citizens through regular street protests attempts at extra parliamentary political dialogue and the opposition’s demands for the formation of a technical government.
“Returning the political debate to the Parliament is the responsibility of all political actors”, the EC stated.
It is added that active and constructive participation by all parties is required to enhance parliamentary accountability, oversight of the executive, democratic scrutiny and better quality of the legislation.
“Regarding governance, there is a need to strengthen transparency, stakeholders’ participation, and the government’s capacity to implement reforms. A new legal framework and methodology on strategic planning should lead to better quality strategic planning, better monitoring and execution”, it is stated in the document.
Montenegro is moderately prepared with the reform of its public administration.
It is stated that Montenegro’s judicial system is moderately prepared and some progress has been made.
“The legislative framework aimed at increasing the independence and professionalism of the judiciary has yet to be fully implemented. Institutional capacity has been strengthened”, the report stated.
Montenegro, as stated, has achieved some level of preparation in the fight against corruption.
“There was some limited progress during the reporting period. However, corruption is prevalent in many areas and remains an issue of concern”, it continues.
The operational capacity of institutions has improved; however, all institutions should demonstrate a more proactive attitude.
“Challenges to the credibility, independence and priority-setting of the Anti-Corruption Agency still need to be addressed”, the report reads.
It is added that financial investigations and seizure and confiscation of assets remain to be improved.
In the fight against organized crime, as stated, Montenegro remains moderately prepared.
“Some progress was made in judicial cooperation and in some areas of the fight against organized crime.”
It was noted that further results are needed to produce a convincing track record on the more complex types of organized crimes, where local vested interests are at stake, including in money laundering, trafficking in human beings and tobacco smuggling, as well as in the confiscation of proceeds of crime.
“Regarding fundamental rights, Montenegro further aligned its legislation with EU standards. The capacity of the Ombudsman office and the National Preventive Mechanism has improved, but more efforts are still needed in strengthening the institutional framework and effective protection of human rights”, the report stated.
Montenegro needs to ensure that adequate institutional mechanisms are in place to protect vulnerable groups from discrimination.
Montenegro has achieved some level of preparation on freedom of expression, but no progress was made in the reporting period.
“There have been very limited developments regarding investigations into cases of violence against journalists. Recent political interference in the national public broadcaster Council and the Agency for Electronic Media are a matter of serious concern”, it is stated in the Document.
The media scene, they stressed, remains highly polarized and challenges in understanding the role of free media persists, and self-regulatory mechanisms remain weak.
With regard to good neighborly relations and regional cooperation, Montenegro remained constructively committed to bilateral relations with other enlargement countries and the neighboring EU Member States and an active participant in regional cooperation.
“Concerning Montenegro’s ability to assume the obligations of membership, important work on alignment and preparation for the implementation of the acquis has taken place in most areas. The country has reached a good level of preparation in areas such as company law, intellectual property law, energy, and foreign, security and defense policy”, it reads further.
It is stated that it is moderately prepared in many chapters, such as the free movement of goods, competition policy, agriculture and rural development, food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, as well as enterprise and industrial policy.
“Montenegro is at some level of preparation in the areas such as environment and climate change, and social policy and employment”, the report states.
Good progress, it is stated, has been made in the areas of right of establishment and freedom to provide services, intellectual property law, agriculture and rural development, and food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy.
“Looking ahead, Montenegro should focus in particular on competition policy, environment and climate change, as well as public procurement. Strengthening the administrative capacity for ensuring the application of the acquis remains an important challenge for Montenegro”, the report reads.
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