Press release: Initials on the agreement on cooperation between Montenegro and EUROJUST

Agreement on Cooperation between Montenegro and EUROJUST has been initialed at the first negotiation session held today in the Hague. Agreement is initialed by Director-General for International for International Legal Cooperation and European Integration Svetlana Rajković and Chair of the EUROJUST External Relations Team and National Member for Slovenia Malci Gabrijelcic.

After two visits of representatives of EUROJUST to Montenegro in 2013 and 2014 and their assessment that Montenegrin authorities implemented all the recommendations aimed at signing of this Agreement, particularly in the field of data protection and international cooperation in criminal matters, for a period of less than a year, the College of EUROJUST approved at the plenary meeting on 9 December 2014 the entering into negotiations aimed at conclusion of cooperation agreement with Montenegro.

Agreement defines the extent of cooperation between Montenegro and EUROJUST, determines competent authorities for its implementation, as well as stipulates the appointment of state prosecutor for cooperation with EUROJUST and liaison magistrate respectively. Agreement clearly identifies the modalities of exchange of information between Montenegro and EUROJUST with particular reference to issues of privacy and personal data protection and data security, which is one of the most important issues in the work of EUROJUST.

The signing of the Agreement on Cooperation with EUROJUST is one of the key measures in the field of judicial cooperation in criminal matters provided for in the Action Plan for negotiating Chapter 24 “Justice, freedom and security“ for 2015.

Article 26a “Relations with third States and organisations“ of the Council Decision on the strengthening of EUROJUST and amending Decision 2002/187/JHA prescribes further steps towards conclusion of the Agreement, defining that such agreements may only be concluded after consultation by EUROJUST with the Joint Supervisory Body concerning the provisions on data protection and after the approval by the Council, acting by qualified majority.