Podgorica, (MINA) - The agreement on constitutional amendments between the government and the opposition is a good start, but it does not solve all problems, the Center for Civic Education (CGO) said.

 

This NGO welcomed the agreement between the government and the opposition to launch the procedure for constitutional amendments, aimed at strengthening judicial independence, in order to reduce political influence on the judicial system and create conditions for a functional rule of law, with a clear separation of powers and less room for undue interference by the executive and legislative branches in the work of the courts and prosecutorial service.

 

Coordinator of the Human Rights Program at CGO Ivan Vukcevic stated in a press release that this NGO, through several statements and publications, have been pointing out that the presence of the Minister of Justice in the Judicial Council is contrary to international standards and recommendations of the Venice Commission and GRECO.

 

“Furthermore, CGO has advocated that the Constitution regulate the method of election and composition of the Prosecutorial Council, with its members being elected by the same qualified majority as members of the Judicial Council”, said Vukcevic, adding that the draft amendments 17 to 21 accepted those recommendations.

 

However, as Vukcevic added, it remains unclear why the proposed composition of the Prosecutorial Council differs from the composition of the Judicial Council, given their similar competences and the need for both bodies to enjoy a similar degree of independence.

 

CGO also believes that the Constitution should be further improved with regard to the chairmanship of judicial councils.

 

Vukcevic said that the president of the Prosecutorial Council should be elected from among the prosecutors, but should not be the Supreme State Prosecutor.

 

He said that the CGO considers the proposed privileged position of certain professions in the Prosecutorial Council to be problematic, stating that it is not clear why lawyers or representatives of the NGO sector would have guaranteed seats, while other legal professions, such as the academic community, notaries or public bailiffs, would not.

 

It is emphasized that it is important that the Law on the National Security Agency (ANB) and the Law on Internal Affairs be adequately amended.

 

“CGO also welcomes the decision to adopt priority amendments to the electoral legislation by July 31, through political consensus. This would further strengthen citizens’ trust in the electoral process and improve its integrity”, the press release said.

 

CGO emphasized the important role of head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro Johann Sattler, in helping bridge the differences between political actors, but expressed concern that international mediation was needed to reach an agreement on issues of key national importance.