Working group for analysis, improvement of anti-corruption coherence established

In accordance with the Decree on the Organisation and Operation of the State Administration, Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary and Anti-Corruption and President of the National Council for the Fight Against Corruption, Momo Koprivica adopted the Decision establishing the Working Group for the Analysis and Improvement of the Coherence of the Anti-Corruption Framework. In this way, a conclusion of the National Council for the Fight Against Corruption was implemented, following an in-depth discussion on the challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve full coherence of the anti-corruption framework.

The Working Group consists of representatives of the Government, Agency for Prevention of Corruption, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Public Administration.

The Working Group is tasked with:

1. Conducting an analysis of the existing institutional and normative anti-corruption framework in Montenegro, from the perspective of mutual harmonisation, efficiency, and clarity of institutional competences;
2. Identifying challenges, overlapping competences, legal gaps and administrative obstacles affecting the effective prevention of and fight against corruption;
3. Reviewing the recommendations, findings and analyses of the Council of Europe’s expert in the field of the anti-corruption system and institutional coordination, and assessing the possibilities for their implementation within Montenegro’s legal and institutional framework;
4. Examining the alignment of the existing framework with relevant international standards and recommendations, including the GRECO recommendations;
5. Identifying overlaps and insufficiently defined competences of bodies responsible for corruption prevention, and proposing measures to improve coordination among competent authorities in the area of corruption prevention and anti-corruption efforts;
6. Proposing activities aimed at improving the coherence, functionality and efficiency of the anti-corruption system;
7. Preparing recommendations and potential legislative solutions aimed at strengthening the coherence of the anti-corruption framework.

The Working Group has a deadline of three months to complete the assigned tasks, as well as the obligation to prepare a report on its work, including proposed solutions and recommendations.

Based on the Memorandum of Cooperation between the National Council for the Fight Against Corruption and the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, a report by international expert Dr. Jure Škrbec entitled “Review of the Overall Coherence and Efficiency of the Legal Framework for the Prevention of and Fight Against Corruption” was also prepared. This report will serve as a valid basis for analysis and the formulation of solutions, particularly in the context of pronounced legal fragmentation in the complex field of anti-corruption.