24/06/2011 Monitoring
Strasbourg, 28.06.2011 - In an information note declassified by the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 21 June 2011, the co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Montenegro, Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD) and Serhiy Holovaty (Ukraine, ALDE), welcomed Montenegro’s willingness to honour its commitments and obligations and meet the requirements of the European Union in the field of human rights, the rule of law and democracy in order to begin the EU accession negotiation process.
“Montenegro has engaged in many substantial reforms that should be achieved within a few months. We welcome the openness and readiness of the authorities to co-operate with the Venice Commission, MONEYVAL and the GRECO and to take into account their recommendations. That said, the swift adoption of numerous laws should not occur to the detriment of the quality of laws. Special attention should be paid to the effective implementation of these laws, which require adequate funding and training of the competent bodies tasked with applying them,” they said.
They also referred to the important role that Montenegro can play in securing stability in the region. “We encourage its authorities to continue their constructive dialogue and co-operation with neighbouring countries and in particular with Serbia. We encourage Montenegro and the states of the region to conclude bilateral agreements and settle the remaining border issues,” they stated.
The co-rapporteurs wish to see progress made in amending the electoral law in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, revision of the judicial system, including effective access to justice, the passing of the Law on the Ombudsman for the effective implementation of the anti-discrimination law, improvement of the legal framework relating to the fight against corruption and organised crime, including the setting up of independent and efficient monitoring bodies, strengthening the freedom of the media, and the appropriate enforcement of minorities’ constitutional and legal rights.