At the 11th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Sub-Committee on Justice, Freedom and Security, European Union officials and representatives of relevant Montenegrin institutions discussed the most important developments, key challenges and steps forward in the rule of law reforms.

The meeting took place online over 15 and 16 February and considered the activities undertaken in the context of Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations in the key policy areas of the rule of law under chapters 23 and 24 of the EU acquis. This includes judicial reform, fundamental rights, the fight against corruption and organised crime, judicial cooperation, cooperation to tackle drugs and fight terrorism, and migration and border management.

Michael Miller, Head of the Montenegro and Serbia Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR) addressed the Sub-Committee meeting on behalf of the European Commission. He said that the Commission welcomed the renewed efforts of Montenegro’s authorities to streamline the negotiation process in the area of the rule of law and fundamental rights: “The priority for further overall progress in the accession negotiations, and before moving towards the provisional closure of other chapters, remains the fulfilment of the rule of law interim benchmarks set under chapters 23 and 24. In this regard, the focus should be on delivering concrete results in the key areas of media freedom, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and judicial reforms.”

The Sub-Committee meeting was part of the regular policy dialogue between the EU and Montenegro, held within the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.