The European Parliament is concerned about the activities of criminal clans in Montenegro

The European Parliament (EP) notes with great concern the serious domestic and international criminal actions of Montenegrin organized criminal groups known as "clans" and calls for a full investigation into their alleged connection with the country's political establishment, Portal RTCG reports.
This is stated in the draft report on Montenegro voted by the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament.
We remind you that on September 20, the deputies of the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament adopted the report on Montenegro authored by Tonino Picula. 51 members of the committee voted for the report, while three were against and three abstained. The document will probably be voted on at the plenary session this month, when it will be adopted in the form of a resolution of the European Parliament.
The document adopted by the committee was published on the website of the European Parliament.
In addition to concerns about the activities of Montenegrin organized criminal structures, the report also notes that it is necessary to work on further harmonization with the EU rules on confiscation of property.
He notes the efforts being made to fight organized crime through legislative changes and the arrest of key figures. He notes the serious allegations against leading figures in the justice system, notes the increasing number of final verdicts, but remains concerned about long trials and frequent delays. It calls on the Montenegrin authorities to strengthen criminal investigations, increase the number of experts in this field, ensure greater cooperation and monitoring in the criminal justice system and deliver judgments in a timely manner - the document reads, reports Public Service.
All this should be done, as stated in the report, with full respect for the right to a fair, independent and impartial trial and safeguarding the rights of the accused.
The EU Parliament calls for further alignment with the EU acquis on asset confiscation.
It welcomes the positive efforts made in the area of prevention of illegal trade, i.e. cigarette smuggling. It notes the new measures announced by the government in July 2022 to ban the storage of tobacco in Bar and reiterates the importance of further measures to combat cigarette smuggling in the country, especially in the free zone of the Port of Bar - the document states.
Members of the EU Parliament call on Montenegro to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking and protect victims and to ensure close cooperation with regional and international partners. They welcome the ongoing cooperation of Montenegro with EU agencies such as Europol and Eurojust and note the importance of this cooperation in providing assistance to Montenegro in the fight against cross-border crime.
The adoption of the new strategy for public administration reform 2022-2026 is also welcomed. but regret the lack of progress in its application.
The MPs particularly emphasized their concern about the politicization of the public service and expressed that they are still concerned about cases of abuse of office.
M.J.