European Commission

The implementation of the project Fight against corruption and organised crime, financed from the European Union Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) began in February 2009. Besides the Directorate for Anti-Corruption Initiative, the beneficiaries of the project include the Police Directorate and the Directorate for Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.

The twinning partner in this project is the United Kingdom, while the objectives of the activities relating to the DACI are:

• Selected legislation review and strengthening DACI’s capacities for provision of legal advice;

• Strengthening inter-institutional cooperation,

• Strengthening DACI’s capacities for activities aimed at public awareness raising.

Government of the Kingdom of Norway

In 2009, DACI implemented the project Support to the implementation of international anti-corruption standards and instruments in Montenegro. The project was funded the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and implemented with the support of the International Management Group (IMG). The project activities included the research on corruption from the perspective of the private sector - Analysis of the presence of corruption and barriers to business in the relationship between the public and private sector in Montenegro. The research, conducted by the CEED included respondents from over 320 companies and state institutions. Under the same project, the DACI organised a Seminar on liability of legal persons for criminal offences, and tracing, seizure and confiscation of assets.

In August 2009, DACI has been granted funds for the project Strengthening the operational capacities of the Directorate for Anti-Corruption Initiative of Montenegro. The project is aimed at enhancing the process of reporting to the National Commission.

UNDP Office in Podgorica

UNDP is the main international partner of the Directorate. Earlier joint projects were mainly focused on the harmonization of Montenegrin legislation with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In light of the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in December 2008, between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the UNODC's experts analyzed four Montenegrin laws: Law on International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Law on Liability of Legal Persons for Criminal Offences, Law on Financing Political Parties and Law on Free Access to Information, regarding their compliance with the requirements of the UNCAC provisions. The analyses include specific recommendations for the implementation of the Convention.

UNDP is the main partner of the Directorate in organising research activities. Up to date, two researches (judiciary and local self-government) have been conducted applying UNDP and UNODC developed methodology. The preparation of the research on corruption in public administration is ongoing.

The research on Integrity and Capacity Assessments of the Judiciary in Montenegro (October 2008) was implemented by the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) in Podgorica, for the needs of the UNDP Country Office and the Directorate, and in accordance with the UNODC standards. The research included respondents in 19 Montenegrin municipalities, while the results confirmed the objectives of the judiciary reform in Montenegro.

The research on Integrity and Capacity Assessments of the Local Self Government in Montenegro *June 2009), conducted by CEED, for DACI and UNDP, included 21 municipality, 5 focus groups (citizens, business sector, local self government employees, civil sector and the employees of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Public Administration (Local Self Government Sector)). The research instrument used with the first three target groups was direct interview, while with the remaining two target groups it was in-depth interview. The comprehensive analysis of the integrity and capacity assessments of the local self government included several segments of functioning of these bodies, such as the quality and availability of services, local government efficiency, corruption, and the relation between local self government employees and citizens. The research contains a number of recommendations to be used as a basis for drafting local anti-corruption action plans.

In cooperation with the UNDP Office in Podgorica and the UNDP Regional Centre in Bratislava, the Directorate took part in the project Network of Experts against Corruption (ACPN). After a number of preparatory activities, the project resulted in the DACI Capacity Assessment, now the baseline for the DACI’s capacity enhancement. The priorities identified the assessment include trainings in the area of strategic planning at both national and organizational level, statistical literacy and research methodology and instruments, as well as communication with media, and design and implementation of the targeted campaigns.

OSCE Mission to Montenegro

The ongoing project Anti-Corruption Initiative in Montenegro entails education trainings for procurement officers in the local self-government units. It includes 3 regional seminars and a final conference in Podgorica.

The Directorate and OSCE Mission to Montenegro prepared a project aimed at further strengthening of cooperation with private sector in fighting corruption. The project integrated two recommendations GRECO evaluated as partially implemented; the elimination of barriers to business and instructions for state auditors on the procedure for reporting corruption to the state prosecutors. As of July 2009, the DACI and the representatives of the Council for the elimination of barriers to business, the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection, Union of Employers, the Chamber of Commerce and representatives of the private analyze the existing legislative and institutional framework for business activity. To date, special reference was given to the issuance of building permits.

Council of Europe

Globally, the cooperation with Council of Europe is implemented through the membership of Montenegro in the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).  In cooperation with the Council of Europe’s country office, the Directorate organises events aiming to promote Council of Europe’s Criminal Law Convention on Corruption and Civil Law Convention on Corruption.