Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

In a concerted effort to enhance the quality, professionalism, and accountability of court experts in Montenegro, key support [BB1] has been provided to the Ministry of Justice in drafting amendments to the Law on Court Experts, by compiling relevant European standards related to the work of court experts, facilitating Working Group meetings and providing critical feedback and guidance in the drafting process.

This legislative initiative aims to improve the legal and institutional framework governing the status, work, and responsibilities of court experts — key actors in the judicial process whose findings often have significant impact on court decisions. The reform is a critical step toward strengthening trust in expert testimony, ensuring consistent standards, and reinforcing the credibility of the justice system overall.

The revised legal framework is expected to address key issues including the appointment and removal of court experts, standards for accreditation and professional development, ethical obligations, and mechanisms for supervision and accountability. The goal is to ensure that court experts operate within a coherent framework that defines their status, obligations, and qualifications, in line with European standards and best practices.

Support to this process is being provided under the action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro” which is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe Horizontal Facility Programme for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.