Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP and Chairman of the European Integration Committee, Ivan Vuković, apologized to members of that parliamentary body for his words that were published in the media.
He made this statement at the Committee meeting, where MPs discussed the Action Plan for fulfilling the final benchmarks in negotiating chapter 23 - judiciary and fundamental rights, the Action Plan for fulfilling the final benchmarks in negotiating chapter 24 - justice, freedom and security, and current issues.
Minister of Justice Bojan Božović said that if the activities outlined in the action plans are not fulfilled, the goal of closing the EU chapter will not be achieved.
He pointed out that several draft laws mentioned in the plans have been sent to the European Commission (EC). He cited, as an example, the draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, adding that the emphasis is on checking the lifestyle of officials.
As he said, among the proposals are the Whistleblower Law, amendments to the Criminal Code (relating to illegal carrying of weapons, greater protection of doctors...), the Criminal Procedure Law, and the Law on the Constitutional Court.
Božović announced that information on the construction of a judicial district was recently adopted, and that three new buildings will be built at the Old Airport.
Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Đeka said that his department has so far completed the draft Law on the Protection of Equality and Prohibition of Discrimination, that a Working Group has been formed to create evidence of reported cases of discrimination, and that the process of drafting the Law on Gender Equality has begun. He pointed out that the process of drafting the Law on Same-Sex Life Partnerships is ongoing, that it is about harmonizing other laws, and that this act is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He also announced that the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance has been fully harmonized, that amendments to the Labor Law have been sent to the EC, that the Law on Civil and Extra-Contentious Procedure has been, while the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and the Law on Criminal Procedure have not, and that the Law on the Execution of Sentences and Measures is in the process of being amended. When it comes to health care, the Law on Mandatory Health Insurance has been harmonized, and amendments to the Law on Health Care have been sent to the EC.
Đeka added that the Personal Income Tax Law has been harmonized, but the Law on Mediation in the Sale and Lease of Real Estate has remained unharmonized.
"The biggest challenges remain in the field of internal affairs, since all necessary laws have remained unharmonized - the Law on the Central Registry, the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship, the Law on Personal Name, the Law on State Registries, and the Law on Registration of Permanent and Temporary Residence of Citizens. The draft Law on Foreigners has been harmonized and is in the parliamentary procedure. The draft Law on Legal Recognition of Gender Based on Self-Determination has been considered by the Committee on the Political System, Internal and Foreign Policy. A vote in the government and parliament is awaited. An evaluation of the strategy for the inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in the period 2021-2025 is being carried out," he announced.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) Jovana Mijović said that, when it comes to Chapters 23 and 24, the Government has undertaken to fulfill all benchmarks by the end of next year, and that the Government is striving to harmonize visa policy with the EU.
State Secretary at the Ministry for European Affairs Biljana Papović stated that the election of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils and judges of the Constitutional Court, the Council of the Agency for Audiovisual and Media Services, and amendments to the Constitution regarding the election of members of the Judicial Council are of great importance.
"The Special Prosecutor's Office has made recognizable progress in the fight against organized crime and high-level corruption, and financial investigations have been improved," she pointed out.
Ombudsman Siniša Bjeković said that it is necessary to strengthen the status of the institution of protector "from B status to A status".
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Mihailo Anđušić recalled the statement of the Lawyers' Association on the SDT Action, in which they point out that "state authorities are seriously violating the fundamental rights of citizens" and called on Božović and the Ombudsman to comment. He explained that the Lawyers' Association announced that "mumblers" had been arrested, and that "phones, laptops, etc. had been illegally seized", and that the media would be reporting "Private correspondence with politicians".
Božović said that he was surprised by the announcement, and that he was the youth secretary of the Lawyers' Association, but that he and his department did not make any comment because that would mean institutional interference.
Bjeković announced that they are not aware of every individual case, but that any that reach his institution will be resolved.
New Serbian Democracy (NSD) MP Milica Rondović asked the minister what had been done in terms of expanding the capacity of the pre-trial detention center and how long the implementation of the new Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) was, and he replied that the pre-trial detention center was built with a different need and in different circumstances than the current situation, and that the ratio of detainees to convicted persons is two-thirds in favor of the detainees.
"With the support of the EC, we have initiated several things. We are in the final phase of building a special hospital in Spuž as part of the prison. The new registration office and multifunctional facility will soon be opened. A budget rebalance was needed and an additional 300.000 was allocated for that activity, because the transformer station had to be relocated," he said, adding that they are closer to the idea of building new facilities as part of the UIKS in Spuž, rather than building a separate prison in Mojkovac.
Jovan Subotić, a member of the New List (NL), which is part of the Europe Now Movement (PES) parliamentary group, said that "a strong state will mean strong opportunities," and that citizens are "ready for the EU."
The leader and MP of the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI) Adrijan Vuksanović asked Minister Božović how he viewed some topics that divide the government and could lead to instability, to which he replied that differences on the issue of European integration should not exist.
"We don't have a day to waste... I see this committee as a body that brings us together and I think that's the right way," he said.
Vuković took the opportunity to apologize to the board members for his words that were reported in the media, alluding to his correspondence with arrested businessman Aleksandar Mijajlović.
"As for the committee members, I would like to take this opportunity to thank them. I would like to thank my colleagues for their very correct tone, it is not easy. I am glad that Minister Božović also referred to this - that this parliamentary committee nevertheless represents an extremely positive example not only in terms of the quality of work and dedication, but also of the political culture of what should be a guide for other bodies. Finally, thank you for the correct attitude you have shown towards the President of the Committee on European Integration. It could have been different. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the people I represent in this institutional capacity - the President of the Committee on European Integration for what you had the opportunity to read in the media. I said, I cannot confirm the authenticity, but I can imagine that I could have used inappropriate language at that time," he said.
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He added that he doesn't think anyone is happy about the former MP or prosecutor being handcuffed.
He concluded his presentation by saying that he would make every effort to ensure that, regardless of the developments in Montenegro, the board remains focused on fulfilling its obligations.
PES parliamentarian Miloš Pižurica said he had an aversion to handcuffing, but added that there was no one in the hall who would rejoice at someone's death or "order a song."
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