On 19-20 December 2023, the Director of Council of Europe Programme Co-ordination Claus Neukirch, paid his first official visit to Podgorica to attend notably the Beneficiary Steering Committee meeting of the EU/Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”. The meeting aimed to take stock of the programme’s key achievements as well as future priorities. 

During his visit, Director Neukirch met with representatives of authorities from Montenegro as well as international partners and civil society representatives. Discussions focused on current and potential future technical co-operation activities advancing the country’s reform agenda. 

He held exchanges in particular with Filip Ivanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Maida Gorcevic, Minister of European Affairs for European Affairs. He also met with Andrej Milović, Minister of Justice, Tamara Vujović, Minister of Culture and Media, Fatmir Gjeka, Minister of Human and Minority Rights, Dragan Bojović, State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and Sergej Mučalica, General Director, Directorate for European Affairs, International Cooperation and Support Programs, Ministry of Interior. Director Neukirch welcomed their commitment to align legislation and practices with Council of Europe standards and EU acquis. They discussed the ongoing co-operation activities to support this reform process, in the areas of judiciary, human rights protection, fight against economic crime, anti-discrimination including minority rights, education, Roma inclusion at national and local level and freedom of expression and freedom of the media. In addition, the authorities expressed needs for further support from the Council of Europe on peer-to-peer violence, digital education as well as trafficking in human beings.

With representatives of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Claus Neukirch exchanged on the close partnership between the two institutions, including through the ongoing joint programmes such as the third phase of the Horizontal Facility running from 2023-2026. They also discussed perspectives for co-operation to further assist Montenegro on its European path. 

On 19 December, a Tree Planting ceremony organised jointly with Filip Ivanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mayor of Podgorica Olivera Injac and the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica marked Council of Europe visibility days.

 Related news :  European Union and Council of Europe continue their support to Montenegro 

 Co-operation page on Montenegro