Podgorica, (MINA) - Montenegro must provide an effective legislative framework for the fight against corruption, to ensure that institutions can act independently and decisively in protecting the public interest, said European Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath.

The Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) stated that the Agency’s acting Director Dusan Drakic hosted McGrath as part of a high-level dialogue dedicated to the further improvement of the rule of law in Montenegro.

McGrath, according to the press release, emphasized the importance of the ASK’s independence, stressing that the Agency is a key institution in strengthening the integrity and trust in public institutions.

“He assessed that Montenegro must ensure an effective legislative framework for the fight against corruption, so that institutions can operate independently and decisively in safeguarding the public interest”, the press release said.

Drakic said that the Agency’s core principle is non-selectivity and impartiality in its work, with a special focus on solving cases of high-level corruption.

According to the press release, the meeting also addressed the Agency’s significant progress in the areas of monitoring the income and assets of public officials, inter-institutional and international cooperation, increasing efficiency in handling cases, improvement of internal procedures and digitization of processes in order to strengthen legal security, but also the challenges it still faces.