Montenegro continues to make progress in judicial reform and in strengthening the protection of victims’ rights, as confirmed during the sixth Steering Committee Meeting of the action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims’ rights in Montenegro”, held in Podgorica on 27 November.

As the action moves towards its final stage, the meeting provided an important opportunity to review the results achieved so far and to begin shaping the priorities for the follow-up phase. This will ensure that the next action builds on the progress already made and continues supporting Montenegro’s efforts under Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.

The discussion highlighted steady advances across the areas covered by the action, including ongoing efforts to reinforce judicial integrity, transparency and accountability through capacity-building activities, cooperation with judicial self-regulatory bodies, and initiatives to improve access to justice. These achievements were complemented by the adoption of new codes of ethics for judges and prosecutors, as well as the establishment of modern judicial appraisal systems, marking a significant step toward clearer professional standards, more objective performance evaluation, and a culture of responsibility within the judiciary.

Progress on victims’ rights also remains significant, with the action contributing directly to several interim and final benchmarks under Chapter 23. Key developments include the finalisation of the first National Strategy on Victims’ Rights and its Action Plan, expected to be adopted by the end of 2025, as well as the ongoing revision of the Criminal Procedure Code aimed at strengthening procedural safeguards. Further improvements in the response to domestic and gender-based violence are supported through legislative and policy work, including new guidelines designed to promote more consistent and victim-centred practice.

The meeting reaffirmed the joint commitment of all institutions and partners involved to continue supporting Montenegro’s alignment with European standards and to maintain momentum as preparations for the next phase begin.

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