Podgorica, (MINA) – The proposed amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs protect the state from the mafia and the police from crime, said Minister of the Interior Danilo Saranovic, adding that these are the only reasons why some individuals oppose their adoption.

Speaking at the press conference, Saranovic said that the EU Delegation to Montenegro confirmed that the draft laws on internal affairs and the National Security Agency (ANB), including the amendments, were coordinated with the European Commission (EC).

“It has been confirmed that we have been working on aligning the draft laws on Internal Affairs and the ANB with the EC and that each amendment to the Law on Internal Affairs has been harmonized with the Commission, except for part of the old law”, said Saranovic.

He specified that he was referring not to the current law, but to provisions from the previous law adopted during the mandate of the former government, regarding ​​personal data protection.

Saranovic asked who is bothered by the reform of the Law on Internal Affairs, which, as he stated, protects the police from all types of crime and undue influence.

“It is completely clear that this law protects the state from the mafia, protects the police from crime, and these are the only reasons why some individuals oppose its adoption”, Saranovic said.

Responding to journalists’ questions about support for the laws in the parliament, Saranovic said that the parliamentary majority supports the initiated reform processes and is committed to helping the Ministry of the Interior fulfil its obligations arising from closing Chapter 24.

When asked about the views of Miodrag Lakovic, MP of the Europe Now Movement (PES), he said that individual views are less important and that they have good cooperation with PES.

Saranovic denied allegations that the Government was suggested by the EU officials to withdraw the proposed laws.

Chief of Police Lazar Scepanovic said that they had communication with EUROPOL and three EC directorates in Brussels regarding the amendments, and that there were no objections to the amendments that are now being disputed.

He pointed out that the aim of the law is to ensure professional and legal police work.

Scepanovic said that the public witnessed the involvement of certain police officers in serious crimes, corruption, drug smuggling and threats to journalists.

“This law guarantees the rule of law, legal certainty and protects police officers from unfounded accusations. It is not true that police officers will lose their jobs based on mere information”, Scepanovic said.