“Implementation of the obligations from the Dynamic Plan for Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security, which are harmonized with the recommendations from this year’s EC Report, will make sure further progress in this chapter and enable the acceleration of the entire negotiation process. I believe that the Working Group, as well as all institutions in charge of the obligations from Chapter 24, will continue to give their full involvement so that the Dynamic Plan is realized in a quality manner and in accordance with set deadlines,“said the head of the Working Group Majda Adzovic.
At today’s plenary session of the Working Group for Chapter 24, current events from that chapter were discussed, with a focus on the realization of the Dynamic Action Plan aimed at meeting the temporary benchmarks and assessments from the EC Report for Montenegro in Chapter 24.
Adzovic emphasized that, during the previous period, significant results were reached in Chapter 24, and that the European Commission itself the in Progress Report recognized improvement in the fight against organized crime, international police cooperation and participation in international actions in which noteworthy quantities of narcotics were seized. The progress is also recognized when it comes to improving cooperation and coordination of law enforcement agencies. Continued cooperation in the implementation of the Agreement between Montenegro and the European Union on activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency was also praised.
Adzovic pointed out that, based on these assessments, she expects that the European Commission will soon prepare a Report on the fulfillment of temporary benchmarks, which will serve as a basis for Montenegro to get closing benchmarks in that chapter and, thus, to make contributions to the overall negotiation process by closing other chapters.
She reminded that the Dynamic Plan was created as a result of the work of the Working Group for Chapter 24 and a thorough review of the remaining obligations from the temporary benchmarks. As well, it was the result of the previous Working Document on the state in Chapters 23 and 24 in Montenegro from May 2021, as well as the references of the last Justice Freedom and Security Subcommittee, held in March 2021. She stressed that the Dynamic Plan contains 54 activities that are distributed according to the sub-areas of the Chapter.
Reminding that a Working Group was formed to prepare an Analysis on the topic of initiating and conducting financial investigations and confiscation of property, she underlined that part of the planned activities was realized during September and October.
The members of the Working Group shared opinions on the issue of upcoming obligations, with the belief that quality planning, cooperation and coordination in this field give results, which is confirmed by practical examples.
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