Podgorica, (MINA) - Last year, Montenegro made significant progress in reforming judicial, anti-corruption and media legislation, strengthening institutions and achieving measurable results in these areas, reaffirming its commitment to the ambition to become a full EU member by 2028.

This was assessed at the 15th meeting of the Montenegro- European Commission Justice, Freedom and Security Subcommittee, which is being held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Podgorica.

The meeting participants agreed that, in order to complete the reform agenda and meet the requirements for closing chapters 23 and 24 by the end of the year, it is necessary to ensure the cooperation of all political and social stakeholders and to demonstrate results, especially in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorcevic, opening the meeting, pointed out that this Subcommittee is of particular importance, as Montenegro is at the end of the negotiation process, as well as that it represents not only a regular negotiation mechanism, but also a key checkpoint for assessing real readiness to bring the reform process in the area of ​​the rule of law to an end.

As announced by the Ministry of European Affairs (MEA), she emphasized that the Government and the Parliament remain firmly and unequivocally committed to the implementation of those reforms.

Gorcevic said that the rule of law and the fight for justice do not end with the EU accession, stressing that it is a permanent process that even the oldest member states continue to work on.

Head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Johann Sattler, said that it is important for Montenegro to continue delivering measurable results and noted that it will have the support of the EU along the way.

“Montenegro has set an ambitious goal of closing Chapters 23 and 24 by the end of the year, which can only be achieved through continuous focus on implementation and achieving concrete results. The EU is ready to continue supporting Montenegro in this final phase. What matters most now are consistency, institutional responsibility and tangible results on the ground”, Sattler said.

Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Justice and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica emphasized that the goal this year is to complete the initiated reforms, adding that Montenegrin society has demonstrated strength in implementing the EU agenda.

The meeting was attended by Constitutional Court President Snezana Armenko, Supreme Court President Valentina Pavlicic, as well as Ministers of Justice, Internal Affairs and Human and Minority Rights, Bojan Bozovic, Danilo Saranovic and Fatmir Gjeka.

Also participating were Supreme and Special State Prosecutors Milorad Markovic and Vladimir Novovic, acting Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption Dusan Drakic, as well as numerous senior European Commission officials, EU Delegation in Montenegro representatives, and representatives of the international community participated in the meeting.