Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary and Anti-Corruption Momo Koprivica said that the failure to vote out the director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) by the council of that institution is a failure to exercise jurisdiction, which constitutes a violation.
He said this, responding to a question from independent MP Maja Vučelić.
She asked him to inform her about the planned timeframe for completing the process of implementing GRECO recommendations, as well as the level of implementation of anti-corruption measures envisaged in the Reform Agenda.
"Which GRECO recommendations have not yet been fully implemented and what are the reasons for any delays? What specific activities does the Government plan to carry out in the coming period to ensure full implementation of the remaining recommendations? At what stage is the implementation of key anti-corruption measures from the Reform Agenda and what measurable results have been achieved so far? Is there a precise plan with deadlines and responsible institutions for the completion of these obligations," she asked.
Koprivica responded that the reform agenda envisages one measure within the jurisdiction of the National Anti-Corruption Council, which is that more than a third of tax and customs administration employees must pass integrity tests.
"Regarding the GRECO recommendations, I would say at the outset that more than a year of the period foreseen for GRECO implementation was covered by the mandate of the previous Government," he said.
As he added, one of the first activities he implemented was changing the regulation on the Government, namely checking the integrity of everyone appointed by the Government.
"We have also adopted a strategy for the fight against corruption. Let me remind you that from 2014 to 29024, Montenegro did not have a valid strategic framework for the fight against corruption. One of the obligations under Chapter 23 was the adoption of the Action Plan for the Fight against Corruption, which we have implemented," he said.
He also pointed out that they have launched an initiative to amend the Constitution, according to which the President and members of the Government do not enjoy immunity for criminal offenses with an element of corruption.
Koprivica called on the Parliament to put the Law on Government on the agenda as soon as possible, as well as all the changes to the Constitution that they have proposed.
Vučelić said that she is "concerned about the situation in ASK" in which a full-term director has not yet been elected.
Koprivica said that ASK sanctioned the former and current president of the state, which speaks to its impartiality.
He added that the ASK Council is responsible for the election, and that they have the right to have an opinion on the candidates, but that failure to exercise their authority is a violation.
"If the legal mission of this body is not achieved, Montenegro will have a problem in a sensitive period when efforts need to be increased to ensure that Montenegro completes negotiations with the EU by the end of 2026," he said.
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Sonja Popović said that she "did not come forward to comment on the political campaign for the election of the ASK director", but rather to inform the public that those in power are not answering MPs' questions, as they are required to do under the Assembly's rules of procedure.
Democratic MP Nikola Rovčanin asked Koprivica if he had any information regarding the allocation of free emission credits to the Uniprom company, bearing in mind that the aforementioned C02 affair has partly reached a judicial epilogue, and what has been or is planned to be done to shed light on it.
He explained that the CO2 tax is now paid to the Eco-Fund, which later provides citizens with funds to replace joinery, facades, purchase electric cars, etc., and that previously these funds were given to the company Uniprom.
Koprivica said that the Law on Protection from Negative Climate Change was adopted on the same night as the Law on Freedom of Religion.
He pointed out that based on that law and its dramatic violation, the state suffered damages of 17 million.
"At the National Anti-Corruption Council, we organized three thematic sessions where numerous stakeholders were invited... Representatives of the Electric Power Company also participated... Representatives of the Eco-Fund and ASK came. We initiated three procedures before ASK, two of which were completed, and among other things, it was determined that there was a violation of the law in the process of awarding emission credits in 2020 and 2021," he said.
Koprivica said that it was determined that emission credits were calculated contrary to the intended methodology.
Rovčanin pointed out that all citizens now benefit from the 17 million that once ended up in private pockets, but he also hopes that there will be more by 2026.
"Did the Uniprom company have the right to inherit the emission credits of the Aluminum Plant?" he asked.
Koprivica explained that they were awarded according to the operators that existed in the period 2005-2008.
"When you buy a company, you buy rights and obligations. Uniprom is not a legal successor, but only purchased assets in bankruptcy. It was not entitled to historical data and retroactive benefits," he said.
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