“Montenegro has made progress in crucial negotiation chapters 23 and 24 in the past year. The results are visible in the fight against organised crime, investigations, prosecutions and final judgments in corruption”, the head of the negotiating team for those chapters Marijana Laković assessed.
She emphasised that the percentage of crimes reported was 73%, due to better cooperation with European police. The leaders and members of several criminal groups were arrested, but significant amount of drugs and weapons were seized. Fight against human trafficking, money laundering and seizure of criminal assets will be the challenge in the upcoming period.
The head of the negotiation team for Chapters 23 and 24 stressed that further progress in integration process depends on the results achieved in the area of the rule of law. That is why the negotiating team is working hard, which is recognized by the European Commission.
“The reform of the judicial system has led to better protection of citizens` rights and faster access to justice. An initial balance of results in prosecutions and final judgments in corruption cases has also been established”, Laković said.
According to her, the results achieved in the area of security are also encouraging. The percentage of solved crimes during this year is 73%. Of the 14 murders committed, 13 were solved. These results are recognised by the Union.
“The fight against organised crime shows better result than in the previous period, mostly because strengthened police cooperation with EU Member States, which led to the arrest of members of criminal groups and significant narcotics seizures, but also because of results of the State Prosecutor`s Office and attitude of the Special State Prosecution”, Laković explained.
“In the upcoming period, institution will work hard in order to achieve a more compelling balance of results in the part of final judgments regarding the fight against human trafficking, money laundering, tobacco products smuggling, as well as seizure of property acquired through criminal activity”, Laković said.
Montenegro has adopted and amended 70 laws in the field of the rule of law in the process of law harmonisation in accordance with European legislation.
Source: TV PRVA M
TV PRVA – MARIJANA LAKOVIĆ, Head of the negotiating team for chapters 23 i 24