Twenty-five representatives of Montenegrin institutions and civil society, participated in a Roundtable on “Law on Prevention of Corruption: Position, competencies and powers of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption”, organized on 21 April 2022, in Podgorica, Montenegro.

The objective of the round table was to present a Council of Europe examination of the Law on Prevention of Corruption which includes a comparative analysis of the current legal provisions vis-a-vis the relevant international standards, with special attention to operational and functional matters, as well as to the safeguards for the financial independence of the Agency; its composition; its competences; and the investigative and sanctioning powers it holds. In being constructive, the legal examination also features amendments that would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the law.

Following the presentation, a roundtable served as a platform to discuss the existing interpretations of the Law that could remain ambiguous, and which could be detrimental for the capacities of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, its financial management or and human resources. Potential risks of political pressure were highlighted and methods for addressing them through legislative changes proposed.

The meeting was organized within the framework of the EU/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey Phase II – Action against Economic Crime in Montenegro (AEC-MNE).