Human Rights Action (HRA) welcomes the decision of the Parliament of Montenegro to initiate the procedure for amending the Constitution, including amendments concerning the composition, election and term of office of the Judicial Council and the Prosecutorial Council, as well as the agreement reached on this occasion by the parliamentary majority and the opposition, which made today’s voting outcome possible.

Regulating the issues concerning the Judicial Council and the Prosecutorial Council has been a long-standing recommendation of the Venice Commission, the European Commission and GRECO, and one of the key conditions for closing Chapter 23 in the negotiations with the European Union.

It is important to bear in mind that today’s decision has only initiated the procedure for constitutional amendments. The Parliamentary Constitutional Committee should now prepare the draft amendments, on which the Parliament will vote again. Only after that will a public debate follow, lasting at least one month, after which the final text of the amendments will be prepared and the Parliament will decide on it in the final stage of the procedure.

As regards the agreement reached, it is particularly significant that it envisages reaching consensus on appointments requiring a qualified majority. We expect this to finally enable the election of two judges of the Constitutional Court — the proposed candidates have been waiting to be voted on for almost six months, while one female judge continues to perform her duties irregularly, although she met the conditions for retirement long ago.

It is also encouraging that the agreement is expected to include amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs and the Law on the National Security Agency. HRA has repeatedly pointed out that the provisions of these recently adopted laws are not in line with the Constitution and international human rights standards, which is why a proposal and an initiative for constitutional review have already been submitted.

Today’s vote and the agreement reached show that consensus on issues of general interest and strategic importance for Montenegro’s future can be achieved — when there is sufficient political will.

It is concerning, however, that this will in Montenegro is evidently driven primarily by representatives of the European Union. The EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Johann Sattler, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, deserve recognition for their contribution to this progress and their engagement in the general interest of Montenegro and all its citizens.

HRA expects the agreement reached to lead as soon as possible to high-quality constitutional and legislative solutions, as well as to the election of two judges of the Constitutional Court — which is a prerequisite for the rule of law, the protection of human rights and Montenegro’s membership in the European Union.