The Faculty of Law at the University of Montenegro and the AIRE Centre signed a Memorandum of Cooperation today, laying the foundation for strengthening the education of future legal professionals in international legal standards and human rights. This partnership, supported by the British Embassy in Podgorica, aims to enhance students’ knowledge of the European Convention on Human Rights, organise specialised seminars, and publish analyses of key rulings from the European Court of Human Rights relevant to the region.
“AIRE Centre has been successfully working with judges and prosecutors in our country for many years, helping them apply international standards in their daily work. This is an important step forward, as these educational programmes are now introduced earlier, at the student level, which will contribute to the long-term strengthening of the legal profession in Montenegro. Together, we can improve access to education for new generations of legal professionals,” said Professor Dr Aneta Spaić, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Montenegro.
Biljana Braithwaite, Director of the Western Balkans Programme at the AIRE Centre, emphasised that this Memorandum marks the culmination of AIRE’s long-standing work in Montenegro: “Cooperation with the University allows us to expand our work beyond judicial institutions and contribute to the development of the legal profession in a new way. By working with students, we help build a high-quality legal workforce for Montenegro’s judiciary, which is a key prerequisite for strengthening the rule of law in the country. The most important lesson we have learned over decades of working in the judiciary across the region is that real progress comes from identifying individuals who want to learn more, take the next step, and contribute to their communities and institutions.”
The Memorandum outlines a series of concrete activities, including the organisation of roundtables and seminars on key legal topics, the publication of reports and analyses on the implementation of international standards, and support for students through educational workshops and access to specialised legal literature. Additionally, the project includes analyses of key rulings from the European Court of Human Rights, helping students gain practical insights into international case law and its application within Montenegro’s legal system.
