Agency for Prevention of Corruption

Meeting of the APC leadership with the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Montenegro Evgenia Giakoumopoulou

May 19, 2021

Contributing to strengthening connections and determining new directions of fruitful mutual cooperation, Director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption Jelena Perovic, President of the APC’s Council Momcilo Radulovic and Head of the Department for International Relations, Standards and Public Relations Marina Micunovic met with Head of the Council of Europe Office in Montenegro Evgenia Giakoumopoulou and senior program manager Ana Selic.

As one of the key beneficiaries of the Horizontal Program for the Western Balkans and Turkey, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union, the Agency receives technical and expert support in controlling of financing political entities and election campaigns, controlling income and assets of public officials, preventing conflicts of interest and reporting and protection of whistleblowers.

Stating the relations with the Office of the Council of Europe as an impressive model of joint work with international partners, Director Perovic said that the Agency, as confirmed by the Work Report for the first quarter of 2021, made a noticeable step forward in efficiency, thanks in large part to the consistent applying the methodology adopted with the expert assistance of this organization.

President Radulovic acquainted his interlocutors with the reform course set by the Council since its establishment in August 2019 and the challenges that the Agency faces in its daily activities. Preserving institutional stability and independence, making a full contribution to upgrading the legislative framework and affirming the rule of law environment remain fundamental strategic goals.

The Council of Europe will continue to provide strong support for the development of strong institutions in Montenegro, Giakoumopoulou mentioned.

The priority in mutual relations in the forthcoming period will be the identification of areas in which the Council of Europe can assist the Agency in further development of practice, primarily in designing a new communication strategy and improving control over the financing of political entities and election campaigns.

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