Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro cannot close negotiation chapter 23 without ensuring better working conditions in the judiciary, said Minister of Justice Bojan Bozovic.

Speaking at the Parliament session on Tuesday, Bozovic presented the amendments to the laws on the Constitutional Court, the Judicial Council and the Prosecutorial Service, which envisage that judges and prosecutors continue to receive 30 percent position-based allowance until the end of the year.

Bozovic emphasized that this is the most important year for Montenegro’s European process and that it is unrealistic to expect the country to close the chapter 23 if better conditions for the work of the judiciary are not provided.

Speaking about the proposed solution, which envisages a 30 percent salary increase, Bozovic said that he is aware that it is not ideal.

He pointed out that he is also aware that the proposed solutions may cause criticism, but that strengthening the judiciary is a prerequisite for progress in European integration.

Bozovic said that the key obligation of the Ministry of Justice is to draft a special law on salaries for judicial office holders and Constitutional Court judges.

“The draft law should be submitted to the European Commission for an opinion at the beginning of March, and after receiving a positive opinion, I hope it will be adopted in the parliament”, said Bozovic.

He also announced amendments to other laws, including the laws on the Judicial Council and Judges, on the State Prosecutor’s Office, the Law on the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the drafting of the law on the Special Court by the end of the year.