Montenegro

Objective: The overall objective of EUROL 4 is to support Montenegro’s preparation for EU accession by assisting it in aligning with and effectively implementing the relevant EU acquis and EU standards in the fields of justice and security, in line with the new enlargement methodology. The specific objectives aim to support Montenegro in strengthening the efficiency and performance of the judiciary, enhancing the capacities of institutions to combat high-level corruption and serious and organised crime, and producing a convincing track record on more complex types of organised crime, including money laundering and tobacco smuggling, as well as the confiscation of proceeds of crime. The action also follows up on the recommendations of the 2022 Peer Review on high-level corruption, organised crime, and money laundering, and offer strategic support for achieving and evaluating the final benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24. Results: Strengthened professional skills and capacities to fight serious and organised crime and high-level corruption. Implementation of key judicial reforms, resulting in a strengthened independence of the judiciary and autonomy of the prosecution, as well as improved impartiality, accountability, efficiency, and professionalism. Improvement of the use of anti-corruption preventive measures and internal control mechanisms within the police. Strengthened capacity of judicial and law enforcement institutions to meet the criteria of the negotiation process under Chapters 23 and 24 (especially the final benchmarks).

Project description   Objectives: The overall objective of the Action is to support the Montenegrin authorities to support Montenegro in achieving concrete results in judicial reform and in the fight against corruption and organized crime. This overall objective will on the one hand be reached by strengthening the overall efficiency and performance of the judiciary and enhance the capacities of the institutions to fight against corruption and organized crime. On the other hand, by strengthening judicial response to organized crime and corruption, through capacity building activities with a focus on certain aspects of adjudication of organized crime and corruption cases as well as support on case and trial management and identifying procedural bottlenecks that impede swift adjudication of cases and providing support on improving length and efficiency of court procedures.   Results: Improved efficiency and performance of the judiciary Improved Judicial Cooperation delivered and in place Improved performance of the Institutions involved in meeting standards under Chapters 23 & 24 and IPA assistance Improved track record in fighting organized crime and corruption