The Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, said that on April 8, she will inform the European Commission (EC) that some conclusions from the temporary criteria will not be fully met, with a clear plan of how they will be treated in the following period.
She clarified before the Committee for European Integration that this refers to the amendment of the article of the Constitution which stipulates that the Minister of Justice should not be a member of the Judicial Council, the election of the President of the Supreme Court and the Law on Financing Political Parties.
Gorčević pointed out that so far the EC and the Venice Commission have sent a set of systemic laws from the field of justice and media laws for their opinion.
These are, as she said, the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Judicial Council and Judges, the Law on Amendments to the Law on the State Prosecutor's Office, the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Special State Prosecutor's Office and the Law on Amendments to the Law on Prevention of Corruption.
Gorčević said that the Draft of the new Justice Reform Strategy for the period from 2024 to 2027, as well as the Draft of Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, was sent to the EC for its opinion.
Before the Committee for European Integration, a consultative hearing is underway between Gorčević, Minister of Justice Andrej Milović, Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Šaranović and the chief negotiator for negotiations on Montenegro's accession to the European Union (EU) Predrag Zenović, on the topic: "Assessment of the fulfillment of temporary benchmarks in chapters 23 and 24".
Gorčević pointed out that they are still in communication with the EC and that they are waiting for feedback from them regarding compliance.
She pointed out that the draft strategy for the fight against corruption is expected to be ready by April 20.
"As for the remaining steps until the fulfillment of the temporary benchmarks, ... there are several temporary benchmarks that rely on the work of parliamentary committees. One relates to the adoption of a plan to amend the law on the financing of political entities and election campaigns, which is within the competence of the Committee for Comprehensive Electoral reform. The appointment of members of the Council of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption is the responsibility of the Anti-Corruption Committee," said Gorčević.
Gorčević urged the intensification of the committee's work so that these activities would be implemented as soon as possible.
She pointed out that the Strategy for the rationalization of the court network is expected from Montenegro by the end of April:
"Preparations of the draft strategy of the Action Plan for the fight against corruption - April 15, the draft of the mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the mentioned strategy and the Action Plan for the fight against corruption, which should be sent by April 20, the first Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Confiscation of Property benefits obtained through criminal activity, which should be sent to the EC for an opinion by April 8," Gorčević pointed out.
She pointed out that the plan for obtaining the IBAR goes according to the deadlines agreed with the EC, stating that MEPs are obliged to inform the EC by the end of April what has been fulfilled, and if they do not, they must send an explanation as to why they will not.
Milović: The Ministry of Justice adheres to the set deadlines
Minister of Justice Andrej Milović said that the Ministry of Justice adheres to the set deadlines and that they have made all changes and additions to almost all laws within the deadline and that they have daily communication with Brussels.
He said that on March 25, the EC sent the Draft Law on the Judicial Council and Judges, and the Law on the State Prosecutor's Office on April 1.
The next day, as he said, both laws were sent to the Venice Commission, so when the opinions are received, the laws should be before the Government and the Assembly.
He pointed out that these laws should be adopted as a matter of urgency.
Šaranović: It can hardly happen that the Ministry of Interior does not implement any obligation from the remaining 13 temporary standards
Minister of the Interior Danilo Šaranović said that in chapter 24, which is predominantly under the jurisdiction of the MUP, out of 28 temporary measures, 15 have been fulfilled so far.
He pointed out that it can hardly happen that the Ministry of Interior does not realize any of the obligations from the remaining 13 temporary benchmarks.
Zenović: There is almost no temporary benchmark that Montenegro has not responded to and in which it has not made a significant step forward
The chief negotiator for negotiations on Montenegro's accession to the European Union (EU), Predrag Zenović, said that if everything goes according to the same dynamics as before, there is almost no temporary measure that Montenegro has not responded to and in which it has not made a significant step forward.
"I would like the media or a general picture that exists that IBAR is given and guaranteed, not to be true, but that the Montenegrin institutions - at this moment the Government, and I believe that the Assembly will do their best to take the necessary steps for IBAR to be essentially positive and that Montenegro receives it at the intergovernmental conference in June," Zenović said.
Šaranović: I would not be a member of the Government if I thought it was doing badly
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Mihailo Andušić asked Saranović if he thinks that his accusations that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić violated the law on the appointment of the director of the Police Directorate disrupt the challenges that await the state in obtaining IBAR.
Šaranović replied that he did not think that this could in any way jeopardize the obtaining of IBAR.
To Andušić's question about the political crisis in the functioning of the Government, Saranović said that he would not be a member of the Government if he thought it was doing badly, but that does not mean that if he disagrees with something, he will not say it clearly.
"It is a duty and an obligation," Saranović said.
Andušić said that if he had left the Government in Šaranović's place, Šaranović asked if he had done something that made him unworthy to perform the function of minister, which is why he would have resigned.
Milović: There are over 60 judges missing in the court system
Croatian Citizens' Initiative (HGI) MP Adrijan Vuksanović said that the collegium of the President of the Assembly heard that by the end of the month there should be amendments to the Law on the Constitutional Court, which he considers unconstitutional, and asked if this could jeopardize obtaining IBAR -a.
Gorčević replied that she had spoken with the proposers of the law, and that the MPs assured her that they would ask the Ministry of European Affairs (MEP) for an opinion on compliance with the EU acquis, and the EC would also give an official opinion.
Milović said that he was in favor of raising the bar for the retirement of judges, not because he wanted to save someone personally, but because things should be viewed strategically and have a vision for the next ten years.
He pointed out that there are more than 60 judges missing in the court system.
Ana Novaković Đurović, Member of Parliament of the Citizens' Movement URA, asked Gorčević when is the deadline for informing the EC about the fulfillment of all benchmarks, given that the minister announced that three benchmarks will be postponed or unrealized.
Gorčević said that the deadline to inform about the possible non-fulfillment of certain criteria is April 8, and that the EC will receive feedback on April 19.
She stressed that the MEP is obliged to submit a report on the fulfillment of temporary criteria to the EC by April 26.
Gorčević: I voted for Radović
Gorčević, answering the question of how she voted in the Government regarding the appointment of the director of the Police Administration (UP), said that she supported the proposal that Aleksandar Radović be the director of the UP.
Milović said that he did not comment on the expulsion from the party and that he had no concerns about it. He said that he is the Minister of Justice and that he does not work for voters, stating that his priority is all the citizens of Montenegro.
"My position is especially easier now that I am no longer a member of the party. I am not the only minister who is a non-partisan figure in the government," Milović said.
Independent member of parliament Jevrosima Pejović asked Gorčević whether the fact that the Minister of Justice is associated with organized criminal groups, which is why he was expelled from the party, endangers the process of integration.
Gorčević replied that Milović is the Minister of Justice and that it is neither the time nor the place to talk about why he was expelled from the party, stating that in the previous few months, when it came to getting IBAR, he did a great job.
She pointed out that no indictment has been brought against him, and that based on the allegations, she cannot comment on anything.
Milović: Every day I ask the SDT if any "paper" has arrived against me and when they are going to arrest me
Milović said that every day he inquires at the SDT if any "paper" has arrived against him and when they are going to arrest him.
Šaranović, answering the question of Ivan Vuković (DPS) whether he does not participate in the work of the government and does not have communication with the newly appointed director of UP, said that he participates in the work of the government in full capacity, but also in terms of communication with the acting director of the Police Administration.
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