Montenegro

Strengthening of the capacities of Montenegrin Parliamentary Committees on the path to EU

By initialing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) the Parliament of Montenegro will acquire additional functions regarding harmonization of legislation and monitoring to the Government’s work, as well as regarding establishing a joint Parliamentary Committee for Stabilization and Association  with the European Parliament.

Within the process of implementation of SAA and the future harmonization of legislation, the role of the Parliamentary Committee for International Cooperation and European Integration and its relation with other existing committees will gain special importance, especially when it comes to the Committee for Constitutional Issues and Legislation.

Mr. Krivokapić said that the project involved advisory assistance in those two Committees that are following all legal projects entering the Parliament and the consent of which is necessary to establish constitutionality and harmonization with the EU regulations. «Strong professional capacities and assistance are requested in order to make an easier way for Montenegro. We hope that our personnel, with the assistance of those engaged in the project will come to the level of knowledge needed to take over the responsible tasks on the path towards EU,» he said.

Mr. Krivokapić has stressed that all that “the great parliaments of the EU countries are doing must be done by the Montenegrin one, with less capacities and assets”.

Mr. Tankosić Kelly said: “Theory and practice have proven that concentration of power, especially in small societies, have a tendency to lead to monopoly rather than increased efficiency and cost effectiveness. The role of political pluralism and the parliament, as representative of different interests and voices of society, but also as a check and balance of executive power is key to building a state which is transparent, responsive and accountable to the needs of its citizens.”
»With this project we do not build bridges or roads or hydro power plants,« Mr. Tankosić Kelly added, »and CDP's efforts and support are not so obvious. But, they are important for building of the capacities of Parliamentary Committees, which is certainly a difficult task that will request strong commitment from two Presidents of Committees, all their Memebers and the staff engaged in everyday work.»

At the project start CDP plans to provide assessment of legal, institutional and administrative capacity aspects of the two Committees, with an objective to create stronger political and administrative capacities and to strengthen expert assistance in their daily work. Establishing of more profound and regular cooperation with one of new EU Member States’ Parliaments will also be an integral part of the project.

The signing was witnessed by Ms. Sanja Elezović, Director of the Foundation Open Society Institute.