Podgorica, (MINA) – All branches of government and independent institutions need to invest new energy and maximum focus in meeting their specific commitments aimed at further strengthening the rule of law, so that Montenegro can receive closing benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24 as soon as possible.
This was heard at the constituent meeting of the new Rule of Law Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pazin.
Presenting the work methodology of the new Council, Pazin underlined the importance of quickly producing tangible results in the areas of fight against corruption and organized crime, human trafficking, money laundering, confiscation of criminal assets, strengthening of institutional integrity and other significant rule of law issues, the government has stated.
“All Montenegrin institutions must demonstrate both readiness and knowledge to meet, within a short period of time, everything that the European Commission recommends needs to be done in order to receive the closing benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24,” Pazin stressed.
It is only through quick and convincing results in those areas, he added, that Montenegro can enter in the near future the final phase of the EU accession talks, which includes the meeting of requirements for final closing of the rule of law chapters.
The DPM said that further strengthening of the rule of law if first and foremost the dire need of Montenegro’s overall economic and social progress, and only then a prerequisite for its further advancement in European integration.
The Rule of Law Council, Chaired by Pazin, comprises heads of judicial and prosecution authorities, and of governmental and independent institutions in charge of rule of law issues.
The Council is tasked with monitoring the implementation of commitments under chapter 23 and 24 in the EU accession talks, as well as with giving recommendations to relevant institutions with regard to their rule of law commitments.
The new Council is established by a government decision of 13 June this year, with fewer members and greater focus on concrete results in meeting the requirements in the EU accession talks and further strengthening of the rule of law. Longer version of article is available on a link MINA ENGLISH SERVIS
