Our non-governmental organisations strongly protest the decision of the Government and the Parliament of Montenegro to keep the Draft Law on the National Security Agency and the Draft Law on Internal Affairs on the agenda of the Second Extraordinary Session of Parliament, despite the fact that the European Commission has not yet delivered its opinion on these draft laws. This is particularly concerning given that the Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, publicly stated that these draft laws would be considered and adopted only after obtaining the opinion of the European Commission and completing consultations with it, in line with the prescribed procedure.
We demand that these draft laws be urgently removed from the parliamentary agenda until the final opinion of the European Commission is obtained and the proposals are fully harmonised with European and international standards in the fields of human rights, the rule of law, and democratic oversight of the security sector.
Keeping these laws on the agenda represents a gross violation of the principles of transparency in the legislative process and a deliberate disregard for both the domestic and international public. This reflects a scrupulous insistence by the authorities on pushing through laws without public debate, laws that seriously threaten human rights and freedoms of citizens, an approach characteristic of authoritarian practices, rather than of a country aspiring to membership in the European Union. We particularly emphasise that these legislative amendments are not required for the EU accession process (they do not carry an EU “blue flag”) and that they were proposed without alignment with European standards.
We recall that these draft laws were previously withdrawn from the procedure following strong public reactions,accompanied by assurances that the process would be improved and that both the public and international partners would be involved in drafting new solutions. To date, no public debate has been held, nor have citizens and the professional community been presented with any amendments that would justify their renewed consideration.
It is especially problematic that the proponents of these laws fail to inform the Montenegrin public whether the European Commission has delivered its final opinion on these proposals and what that opinion entails, leaving journalists to seek this information directly from the European Commission.
Laws regulating the work of the National Security Agency and the police form the very foundation of the security system and must therefore be adopted through an open, inclusive, and transparent process.
The continuation of a non-transparent process of imposing these laws represents a step backwards for democracy, the rule of law, and Montenegro’s European path.
Action for Human Rights
Network for the Affirmation of the NGO Sector (MANS)
Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
Centre for Women’s Rights
Association Spectra
Centre for Civil Liberties (CEGAS)
Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
Centre for Democratic Transition (CDT)
Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG)
Centre for the Development of Non-Governmental Organisations (CRNVO)
Centre for Women’s and Peace Education – ANIMA
Montenegrin LGBTIQ Association Kvir Montenegro
Juventas
Prima
Safe Women’s House
SOS Podgorica
Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (AYDM)
Association of Lawyers of Montenegro