Announcement of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption on the GRECO Evaluation Report for Montenegro within the V round of the evaluation on Preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies.

The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and the Government of Montenegro published this morning the Evaluation Report for Montenegro within the V round of the evaluation on the topic Preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. Previously, on October 13, at its 23rd session, the Government considered this document and authorized it for publication. The report evaluates the effectiveness of the framework in our country for preventing corruption among persons in the highest executive positions (prime minister, ministers, high-ranking officials and advisers) and members of the police. The aim is to help authorities to comply with GRECO standards.

The recommendations in the Report concern the assessment of the effectiveness of anti-corruption mechanisms in relation to the Government of Montenegro and the Police Directorate in preventing conflicts of interest, limitations in the exercise of public functions, verification of income and assets, development of whistleblower institutes, policy of integrity, transparency, ethical principles, as well as educational activities. By the end of 2023, Montenegro is obliged to report on the status of implementation of the given recommendations.

We are proud that the Report recognized that under the new management, the performance of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, which is the national coordinator for all obligations arising from our country's membership in GRECO, has improved, and that "functioning is moving in the direction of greater independence, efficiency and a more proactive approach," as stated.

GRECO's document states what we have repeatedly emphasized: that anti-corruption policy cannot be left exclusively to our institution, but that the effectiveness of corruption prevention depends on the proactive approach of all relevant social factors.

The report also mentioned the need to strengthen the capacities of the Agency. We are dedicatedly working on this, both through organizational planning and adoption of key strategic documents, improvement of work procedures and methodologies, introduction of a new information system, as well as continuous education of employees and starting the process of hiring new ones, in accordance with the existing systematization.

The Agency will work dedicatedly to fulfill the recommendations from the GRECO Report that refer to the domain of its functioning, and will make a full contribution to the success of the entire process of improving the effectiveness of the framework for preventing corruption among persons in the highest executive positions and members of the police.