Podgorica, (MINA) – Progress in the court system is visible and measurable, despite numerous challenges facing Montenegrin courts, said Supreme Court President Valentina Pavlicic, adding that the international community recognized this in all relevant reports.

 

Speaking at the press conference, presenting the semi-annual review of the work of Montenegro’s courts and the activities undertaken by the judiciary to fulfill the obligations under Chapter 23, Pavlicic said that the strength of the state is reflected in the extent to which citizens believe that they are equal before the law, that their rights are protected and that justice is accessible to everyone.

 

She remarked that there is no truly independent state without an independent judiciary.

 

Pavlicic said that they have been focused on what is expected of them: greater efficiency, better court management, standardization of court practice, greater transparency and a more responsible approach to every case.

 

 

According to her, in achieving those goals and results, they encountered and are still encountering serious problems, which could not be solved ad hoc and which are beyond their control.

 

“However, despite all that, our progress exists, which has been recognized by the international community in all relevant reports. It is both visible and measurable”, said Pavlicic.

 

She noted that the Special Department of the High Court in Podgorica has an efficiency rate of 90 percent, which, as she said, is the best result since 2020.

 

Speaking about the Supreme Court, Pavlicic said that, although the shortage of judges, the court has succeeded in its mission to provide citizens with access to justice in a reasonably timely and efficient manner.

 

Pavlicic also highlighted that the issue of the retirement age for judges has not yet been resolved and that the vacant positions in the Supreme Court cannot be filled quickly.

 

She called on the executive and legislative authorities to urgently and without delay resolve the issue of retirement age limit for judges of regular courts.

 

Pavlicic said that, when it comes to old cases, or cases older than three years, the Unified Program is producing results at the national level.

 

She added that the average performance of all courts for the first half a year is at 97 percent.

 

Pavlicic remarked that, alongside their daily work, the courts have continued to meet their obligations in regard to final benchmarks under the negotiating Chapters 23 and 24, as well as through other working bodies responsible for reporting on the implementation of the Council of Europe and the UN conventions.

 

Asked about the escape of Miloc Medenica and its impact on the image of Montenegro, Pavlicic said that it does not produce positive results for the judicial system.

 

“As I have said many times, there was a period when the High Court could not resolve cases within the envisaged deadlines, in this three-year period. On the one hand, we do not shy away from responsibility, but the entire system had to work together to prevent this from occurring”, said Pavlicic.