The rule of law, respect for human rights and democratic governance are at the heart of the EU accession process. To support reform processes in these areas, the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE) have been closely cooperating in the Western Balkans and Turkey through the Horizontal Facility for many years.
The fight against economic crime is very high on the political agenda in the EU. Through this action, the EU and the CoE work together with the Montenegrin authorities to ensure accountability and transparency of institutions involved in the fight against corruption, money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
This action forms part of the Horizontal Facility II and is aimed at enhancing the rule of law and governance in Montenegro by strengthening mechanisms for preventing and fighting economic crime. New tools and methodologies developed with the support of the action will help national institutions to address corruption and money laundering more efficiently. A lower level of corruption and money laundering in practice means that citizens enjoy equal access to employment and services, while also enabling merit-based promotion, fewer barriers to small and medium-sized businesses, economic growth and a wealthier state. In other words, this action will result in improved legal and operational framework for preventing and combating corruption in Montenegro, as well as in enhanced institutional capacities/mechanisms for countering money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
More about the Horizontal Facility Programme
The first phase of the programme ran from 2016 to 2019, while the second phase covers the period from 2019 to 2022. The total value of the facility is approximately €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE). In the first phase of the programme, there were six beneficiary-specific actions for Montenegro, with a total budget of €3.33 million. In the second phase, €4.7 million have been allocated for seven actions, covering all the key areas of the Horizontal Facility such as: justice reform, human rights protection, prison and police reform, fight against economic crime, fight against discrimination and inclusive education.
