Milena Muk and Bojana Pravilović, representatives of Institute Alternative, presented proposals for improving the work of the Anti-Coruption Committee to the President of this working body, Jevto Eraković, at today’s meeting.
For years, Institute Alternative has been monitoring the work of the Parliament and its committees, and on this occasion, we have pointed out some of our recommendations that we advocate regarding the Anti-Corruption Committee, such as: renewing the initiated practice of reviewing quarterly reports on the work of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, as well as utilising the opportunity for periodic review of the results of the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office and the Special State Prosecutor’s Office, in the fight against corruption in accordance with the amendments to the Law on the State Prosecutor’s Office from 2021.
We also emphasised the need for the Anti-Corruption Committee to take a more active role in relation to the long-awaited development of the Anti-Corruption Strategy, as well as the consideration of reports and recommendations based on the evaluation of the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
Considering the importance of the anti-corruption role of inspections, we announced that Institute Alternative will soon publish the results of our research on the effects of inspection services in high-risk corruption areas, which could be a stimulus for more effective parliamentary oversight in that area. We also reminded that the Anti-Corruption Unit has been active within the Ministry of the Interior for over a year, the results of which both the Parliament and the Committee can and should more proactively engage in considering.
Additionally, based on our recommendations, as well as the criticisms stated in the European Commission’s progress reports for Montenegro, we highlighted the need for the Parliament to institutionalise the consideration of petitions within Committees. Citizens have access to a form for submitting petitions, but there is a lack of definition of procedures and deadlines within which committees must consider them and provide a response.
IA Team
