The European Commission is working on the report which will serve as a basis for the European Council’s decision on the opening of accession talks with Montenegro.

Therefore, Montenegro is required to achieve new, measurable results in the area of strengthening the rule of law and fight against corruption and organised crime by mid-June, Stefano Sannio, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement, remarked at the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković earlier today.

DPM Marković informed Mr Sannino about the latest results in combating corruption and organised crime, and judiciary reform. He voiced satisfaction with the successful implementation of the newly adopted legal framework,noting that the Government has been monitoring, on a daily basis, the implementation of the adopted legislation and analysing their legal effects. He announced the imminent preparation of the analysis to rationalise the court network which includes courts, number of judges and courts’ administrative staff.

The Government will undertake additional efforts to boost capacities of the State Audit Office which is directly in charge of supervising the implementation of the Law on Financing Political Parties, DPM Marković added.

Mr Sannino praised Montenegro’s track record in promoting and safeguarding human rights, particularly with regard to vulnerable groups such as displaced persons, persons with disabilities, RAE population, LGBT persons and women. The latest indicator of that kind of commitment, the two officials agreed, is a strategic document which has been reviewed at today’s meeting of the Commission for political system, domestic and foreign policy, and is concerned with the status of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro for the period 2012-2016.

The two officials emphasised that, although not previously explicitly stated as a condition for the opening of EU entry talks, the constitutional amendments are critical for further Montenegro’s EU bid, as they strengthen judiciary independence and eliminate potential political and other impact on the performance of judicial offices’ holders.

When it comes to media freedom in Montenegro, it has to be further improved through concrete activities, the two officials concluded.