Natrag Public authorities in Montenegro re-affirm co-operation with the EU and Council of Europe in the path to advance justice reform and victim protection

Podgorica 2 October 2023
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Public authorities in Montenegro re-affirm co-operation with the EU and Council of Europe in the path to advance justice reform and victim protection

The second Steering Committee Meeting of the joint European Union and Council of Europe action, "Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro", took place in Podgorica. The meeting brought together key stakeholders and local actors involved in Montenegro's justice reform and the protection of victims' rights. This meeting served as an opportunity to evaluate the progress made and discuss with beneficiaries and partners key future interventions and co-operation. 

Moving forward, the action’s focus will be on completing legislative reforms aligned with recommendations from the Venice Commission. Additionally, there will be a concerted effort to strengthen the institutional performance of judicial bodies, including the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils, judges, and prosecutors. Simultaneously, Montenegro is undertaking a comprehensive revision of its criminal legislation to align with EU standards and European Court of Human Rights norms. This effort will be complemented by capacity-building activities to ensure effective implementation and a harmonised approach in its application by legal professionals.

A significant aspect of the action plan includes the establishment of comprehensive approach in addressing the victims´ rights. This strategy aims to address victims' rights cohesively, providing guidance on the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders. The action will continue to focus on enhancing protection for all victims involved in judicial proceedings, offering support services, legal aid, and protection from repeat victimisation.

Despite the ongoing challenges posed by political uncertainties, the authorities in Montenegro are committed to advance the justice reform and victim protection initiatives. The collaborative efforts of the European Union and the Council of Europe will play a vital role in achieving these objectives and ensuring a more robust and accountable judicial system in theMontenegro.

The action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims’ rights in Montenegro” is a part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

 

 

Horizontal Facility III

The joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative, running from 2023 until 2026.

The programme covers actions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

The third phase of the programme is worth €41 million (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).

* Ova oznaka ne prejudicira stavove o statusu i ista je u skladu s Rezolucijom Vijeća sigurnosti UN-a 1244 i Mišljenjem Međunarodnog suda pravde o Deklaraciji o neovisnosti Kosova.