Gansen to Bečić: Germany recognises and appreciates that you are at the centre of the reform process in the fight against organised crime and corruption

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for Security, Defence, Fight Against Crime, and Internal Policy, Mr Aleksa Bečić, hosted today at the Government of Montenegro the newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Montenegro, H.E. Edgar Alfred Gansen.

Congratulating the Ambassador on the beginning of his term of office, Bečić expressed his conviction that the traditionally good relations between Montenegro and Germany would be further enhanced, with a particular focus on European integration, regional stability and security cooperation.

Bečić said that the foreign policy of the current Government of Montenegro rests on three key pillars: contributing to regional stability, responsible membership in NATO, and full commitment to membership in the European Union.

"Montenegro can and should be a bridge of cooperation in the Western Balkans, but also an example. At the same time, we are a reliable member of the North Atlantic Alliance, while the third and key pillar of our foreign policy is full membership in the European Union, which this Government has been working diligently to achieve since taking office," Bečić emphasised.

Speaking about the European agenda, Bečić noted that, after taking office, the Government of Montenegro inherited an almost stalled European integration process and a number of dysfunctional institutions, but had succeeded in stabilising the system and accelerating the European integration process.

During the three years of this Government's mandate, we have managed to close as many as 18 negotiating chapters, compared to the three technically closed chapters during the twelve years of previous governments in the negotiating process. A particular achievement at the beginning of our mandate was obtaining the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) for Chapters 23 and 24, which marked a turning point in accelerating the process. We hope to soon close the remaining negotiating chapters, and we are actively working towards that goal, with the largest part of Montenegro's obligations having already been fulfilled, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Bečić expressed particular gratitude to Germany for its continuous support for Montenegro's European path, stressing the importance of Berlin's support at a time when the country is entering the final stage of the negotiations.

"Indeed, a challenging year lies ahead of us. Small Montenegro is achieving great successes, and we are entering the final stage of the negotiating process," Bečić said.

Particular attention during the meeting was devoted to the security sector and the resolute fight against organised crime and high-level corruption. Bečić stressed that the competent authorities and professionals within the system make decisions independently and in the interest of the state, adding that, unlike in some previous periods, the state and criminal structures are now on opposite sides and in direct institutional confrontation.

"The fight against organised crime and high-level corruption, as well as vetting, that is, the process of cleansing institutions, carried out by the competent authorities in accordance with the law, of all links to organised crime and illicit influence, will not stop. International confidence in and cooperation with Montenegro's security sector are at an historic high."

Speaking about personnel reform in the security sector, Bečić said that it is being implemented along three key lines: strengthening the personnel capacities of the system and employing young professionals; retaining and motivating the qualified personnel already working within the system; and implementing the integrity vetting process.

He announced continued investment in the capacities of the security and defence sectors, for which historically high allocations have been provided in this year's budget, with the aim of procuring state-of-the-art equipment.

"New vehicles, uniforms, drones, vessels, helicopters and much more, with the aim of strengthening capacities and modernising and digitalising working processes. In this regard, I would also like to highlight the fact that, in June, the Ministers of Defence of Montenegro and the Federal Republic of Germany, Dragan Krapović and Boris Pistorius, signed the Agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on cooperation concerning the procurement of military and defence equipment, training and services. This is the first agreement of its kind that Germany has signed with a country, and on the basis of this agreement Montenegro will continue to strengthen its capacities.

"Our philosophy is clear and simple: higher salaries and pensions, a resolute fight against crime, the seizure of assets belonging to criminal structures, the economic empowerment of citizens, strong institutions, and the protection of social and political freedoms. These are precisely the foundations of a strong state and of a serious and responsible next member of the EU," Bečić said.

The newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Montenegro, H.E. Edgar Alfred Gansen, said that Montenegro has Germany's full support, not only political but also concrete and practical support.

"The support is unequivocal, including with regard to the current process, which has also been recognised by the European Commission, related to Montenegro's reforms and achievements in the fight against organised crime and corruption. We know and appreciate that you are at the centre of this process," Gansen said.

The Ambassador expressed his expectation that Montenegro would continue implementing reforms and delivering concrete results, noting that the commitment of the European Union Member States to enlargement is unequivocal.

The interlocutors also discussed current regional and other challenges, as well as the need to further strengthen the resilience of Montenegro's institutions, agreeing that intensive cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany is of particular importance for Montenegro.

Bečić particularly highlighted the importance of German support in the context of Montenegro's upcoming chairmanship of the Berlin Process, taking place precisely at a time when the country is in the final stage of its European integration process, noting that Germany's continued support represents an important impetus for reforms and Montenegro's European perspective.