The Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office of Montenegro (SSP) and the AIRE Center’s Western Balkans Program signed a Memorandum of Understanding, announcing their collaboration to strengthen the judicial response against organised crime and to enhance transparency and the application of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (the Convention).
The signing of the Memorandum comes at a crucial time during Montenegro’s EU membership negotiations, following the adoption of a positive report on the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR). Significant progress is required in the areas of rule of law, judicial independence, and the fight against organised crime as Montenegro continues on its EU path. The Memorandum confirms the determination of the SSP and the AIRE Center to work together to strengthen the national implementation of international standards, particularly the Convention, to contribute to judicial reform in Montenegro and EU negotiations under Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom, and Security).
“I am confident that the collaboration between the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office and the AIRE Center will improve the work of the State Prosecutor’s Office and lead to a more efficient fight against organised crime and corruption. The upcoming project activities will also enhance the quality of the application of best practices of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as strengthen the transparency of the state prosecutor’s organisation”, said Milorad Marković, Supreme State Prosecutor of Montenegro.
“After more than 20 years of the AIRE Center’s presence in Montenegro and the Western Balkans, we have witnessed significant progress in the field of rule of law, and we are proud to be in a position to support judicial institutions on this path”, said Biljana Braithwaite, Director of the AIRE Center’s Western Balkans Program.
Braithwaite emphasised that this Memorandum opens a new chapter in the long-standing cooperation between the AIRE Center and the SSP. “The SSP plays a key role in ensuring the rule of law, especially given the pressing issues that threaten Montenegro’s stability and progress, such as organised crime. We will continue to collaborate on professional training and research projects, all aimed at aligning the domestic prosecutorial practices with European legal standards”, she concluded.
