BOK: Montenegro always open to foreigners who can contribute to the prosperity of our country through clean investments

Montenegro always remains open to foreign citizens who, by respecting regulations, clean investments and good examples and practices, can contribute to the prosperity of our country, it was announced at a session of the Bureau for Operational Coordination of Intelligence and Security Sector Bodies (BOK).

Deputy Prime Minister and BOK Coordinator Aleksa Bečić announced that this body, with the participation of its members, as well as the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Acting Assistant Director of the Anti-Crime Sector, held its twelfth session, at which they discussed several issues within their jurisdiction.

"The BOK concluded that, based on previously established conclusions, in the period between the two sessions, the trend of good results in areas defined as national priorities in the fight against serious and organized crime continued, and it also treated as significant the results of preventive and repressive activities undertaken in the two-month period since October, manifested through 3.785 controls of members of organized crime groups and persons associated with them, as well as 395 controls of catering establishments with which the aforementioned categories of persons are associated or in which they stay, while based on the procedural activities undertaken, 177 criminal and misdemeanor charges were filed against members of OKGs and persons of operational interest," the statement reads.

As Bečić said, in the domain of implementing previously established obligations, the BOK considered and analyzed the Police Directorate's treatment of foreign citizens in the context of the provisions of the currently applicable law, emphasizing the "multiple increase in the efficiency of the measures taken" compared to the previous year.

"In this regard, in the period from January 1 to December 1 of the current year: 10.568 misdemeanor reports were issued, which is 52% more than in the entire year 2024; 1.790 decisions on voluntary return to the home country were issued, which is 82% more than in the entire year 2024; 212 foreigners were forcibly removed, which is 168% more than in the entire year 2024; 186 foreigners were expelled, which is 142% more than in the entire year 2024; the stay of up to 90 days was canceled for 1.989 foreigners, which is 70% more than in the entire year 2024, and the implementation of the procedure for the termination of temporary residence was initiated for 2.401 foreigners, which is 708% more than in the entire year 2024. more than in relation to the entire year 2024," he points out.

Bečić also said that the BOK, taking into account the ongoing security challenges, as well as the increased fluctuation and presence of citizens during the upcoming holidays, pointed out to the authorities the obligation to take all necessary measures to ensure a stable environment, with a special focus on the implementation of conclusions related to undertaking preventive repressive activities against categories of high-risk persons and groups.

"In terms of the initiated reform processes, the BOK praised the activities on finalizing amendments to strategically important laws - the Law on Weapons, which has been sent for opinion to the European Commission, the Law on Road Traffic Safety, the text of which has been harmonized with the Secretariat for Legislation, and the Law on Foreigners, which is already in the final phase of the parliamentary procedure, so it is expected that the proposed laws will be part of the national legal framework and the basis for improving the situation in the aforementioned areas as soon as possible," adds Bečić.

The BOK affirmed the strengthening of the personnel structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Police Directorate through the recruitment of around 500 new police officers on various grounds, "with the intention of announcing new public calls in the coming period in accordance with the current and upcoming legal improvements", which "along with other reforms proposed by the Government, i.e. amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs, the BOK strongly supports, as well as through the prompt resolution of the legal employment status of graduates of the Police Academy."

In the domain of digitalization, BOK was informed about the progress achieved in the procedures for introducing the stationary radar system, as well as the expansion of the video surveillance system of public areas in the areas of Cetinje, Herceg Novi and Nikšić, with "reminding once again that these are strategic, fundamental projects."

"The BOK expressed satisfaction that the adoption of the new Rulebook on the internal organization and systematization of the Ministry of the Interior has resulted in the realization of a conclusion relating to the formation of a special organizational unit, which will be exclusively responsible for criminal offenses in the field of environmental crime, which, along with the results achieved so far in this area, demonstrates a very clear commitment to the fight against this form of crime," said Bečić.

He also said that, in order to meet the final benchmarks for negotiating chapter 24, the BOK decided to form an interdepartmental working team to draft "one of the key documents" that address the issue of serious and organized crime - SOCTA MNE 2026.

In accordance with planned activities, the BOK also reviewed reports on the work of interdepartmental working teams, and considered several other issues within its jurisdiction, the statement said.