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Montenegro great with the rule of law vs. freedom of the media, anti-corruption

Pazin & Orav happily ever after

Montenegro has remained a leader in European integration. The state has advanced in the area of ​​rule of law, judicial reform, and strengthened macroeconomic and fiscal stability, but freedom of the media, the fight against corruption, crime, money laundering and human trafficking are still areas in which many countries have to do more and show progress – this is the sum of the European Commission’s Progress Report on Montenegro.

Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pažin says Montenegro is a leader on the road to EU and is satisfied with the EC Report.

“This is an incentive, but also a responsibility to achieve all the necessary standards. The report is objective. It has a clear cross-section of all areas where Montenegro has progressed, but it also indicates where we need to achieve better results. Montenegro has made progress in the rule of law, without which, we wouldn’t be in a position to open six new chapters and temporarily close one. We also expect to open the remaining three chapters. Thirty open chapters and three temporarily closed ones is a result for appreciation”, said Mr. Pažin.

He added EC has also noted progress in judicial reform, and that Montenegro has fully complied with the EU’s security policy.

“We see good progress in the reform of public administration, but also in the field of agriculture and rural development. The fight against organized crime primarily means the fight for the safety of every citizen. We achieved progress in the fight against corruption, but the repeated assessment is that there is no progress with the freedom of the media. The government is aware of this and we will prepare amendments to the laws regarding the media and the Public Broadcasting Service with representatives of these institutions”, said Mr. deputy prime minister.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Ambassador Aivo Orav, stresses a comprehensive electoral reform is needed. He says that, politically, the previous period has been marked by the boycott of the opposition. The return to parliament, he adds, is the responsibility of all political actors.

“Public administration reform has progressed, primarily through the adoption of new laws. Public administration and the judicial system require more progress, and it is necessary to fully implement all laws. There is progress against corruption, but it does remain a matter of concern. Financial investigations also need to improve, especially in the area of ​​temporary and permanent seizure of property acquired through crime”, Ambassador Orav pointed out.

He further detailed that there’s a need to do more in the area of ​​money laundering and trafficking in human beings. As regards to freedom of expression, he believes progress has not been made.

“There has been no progress in the investigations into the old cases of assaults on journalists, and recent political interferences in the work of the RTCG Council and the Agency for Electronic Media are a concern”, he said.

EU Ambassador also says Montenegro is committed to regional cooperation.

“Montenegro has made some progress in the development of a functioning market economy. Macroeconomic and fiscal stability has been strengthened, but the issue of large public debt needs to be resolved,” he concluded.

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