The State Prosecutor’s Office is achieving outstanding results in combating all forms of crime, particularly organised crime, corruption and war crimes, demonstrating its strength and capacity to conduct complex and cross-border investigations — this is the assessment of the European Commission in its latest Rule of Law Report.
Brussels notes that reforms within the State Prosecutor’s Office are producing measurable results and contributing to the fulfilment of the final benchmarks under negotiating Chapters 23 and 24, which form the foundation of Montenegro’s European path.
Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening the capacities of the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office and the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, with the assessment that these institutions are increasingly effective in responding to the most complex forms of crime.
In the document, the European Commission highlights proactive investigations into organised criminal groups, improved cooperation with international partners, and the intensive use of financial investigations in organised crime and money laundering cases.
Cooperation with European judicial and security institutions, as well as with prosecution services in Latin American countries, is also recognised as an important step forward, contributing to more effective detection and prosecution of the most complex forms of cross-border crime.
With regard to combating corruption, the Commission notes that coordinated action by the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office, the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, the Special Police Department and other competent authorities is producing visible results through an increased number of investigations, indictments and high-level corruption cases. The cooperation among institutions is particularly positively assessed as contributing to more effective detection and prosecution of corruption-related criminal offences.
Among the significant results, the report also cites the prosecution of war crimes, including a judgment for a war crime committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the initiation of new proceedings for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The European Commission also positively assesses regional cooperation in this area and the implementation of the Strategy for the Investigation of War Crimes.
The report confirms that the implementation of the Guidelines on Procedures in Cases of Violence in the Family and Family Community is producing concrete positive results, particularly highlighting the proactive approach of state prosecutors. By taking measures in all cases of violence and proposing that courts impose protective and supervisory measures, prosecutors significantly contribute to more effective victim protection. This type of prosecutorial engagement has contributed to improving the assessment of the risk of repeated violence and strengthening the overall victim protection system.
The European Commission also recognised the efforts of the State Prosecutor’s Office in protecting journalists, noting that the competent authorities continue to provide a timely and effective response to new cases of violence against media workers.
The report also records progress in investigating and prosecuting cases of ill-treatment and torture, pointing to an increase in the number of cases and greater efficiency in their prosecution.
In the area of combating trafficking in human beings, the European Commission notes that Montenegro continues to strengthen its results in the proactive detection and identification of victims, as well as in the investigation, prosecution and processing of perpetrators of this criminal offence.
The need for further capacity building and continued reforms has been recognised, and the State Prosecutor’s Office will remain committed to these efforts with the aim of improving efficiency, accountability and citizens’ trust.