Progress in Chapters 23 and 24 is not measured by norms on paper, but by their consistent and efficient implementation and measurable results in practice, said Supreme Court President Valentina Pavličić at a meeting of the Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security.
The Supreme Court announced that Pavličić, addressing the participants of the meeting, emphasized that the final benchmarks in these chapters are crucial for the overall assessment of Montenegro's readiness for membership in the European Union, and that the judiciary has a special responsibility in that process.
As she pointed out, the judiciary is aware of its constitutional role and the importance of acting in the protection of human rights, legality and equality of citizens before the law.
Pavličić pointed out that in the period since the previous meeting, undeniable progress has been achieved in areas that the European Commission (EC) continuously recognizes as priorities, with the consolidation of achieved results.
"She particularly emphasized that progress is not assessed through normative changes per se, but through a sustainable "track record", that is, visible and measurable results that confirm the independence, impartiality, professionalism and efficiency of the judiciary," the statement said.
Speaking about strengthening institutional guarantees of judicial independence, Pavličić assessed that the time is ripe for amending the Constitution in terms of improving the composition of the Judicial Council, in order to further strengthen its responsibility in managing the judiciary and reduce the space for political influence.
Pavličić pointed out that the majority participation of judges, with the presence of prominent lawyers, ensures a balance between the independence and democratic legitimacy of that body.
"She also recalled the specific activities that have been carried out to increase the efficiency of court proceedings and reduce the number of backlogged cases, citing the adoption of the Unified Program for Resolving Old Cases - the first national strategic document of its kind - as a particularly significant step forward," the statement said.
It is stated that Pavličić also pointed to the improvement of the harmonisation of judicial practice, the transparency of the work of the courts, as well as strategic documents aimed at more efficient criminal proceedings, effective penal policy and stronger protection of victims' rights.
Pavličić emphasized that the judicial authorities take seriously the EC's assessments about the need to further strengthen the quality of judicial decisions and the consistent application of European standards, and that they see these recommendations as a constructive framework for the next, sustainable phase of reforms.
She thanked the EC representatives for their continued support and expert recommendations, stating that the judiciary remains fully committed to meeting all final benchmarks and achieving tangible results, in line with European standards and the expectations of the citizens of Montenegro.
The Supreme Court stated that the meeting of the Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security will continue tomorrow, when Judge Milenka Seka Žižić will present further results on behalf of the Supreme Court.
"The Subcommittee will review Montenegro's progress in strengthening the rule of law within the framework of negotiation chapters 23 and 24, with a focus on the results achieved in the area of the judiciary, fundamental rights and the fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as on plans and challenges in implementing future reforms," the statement said.
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