The State Department stated that corruption and the perception of corruption are significant problems in the public and private sectors of Montenegro.
Several American companies specifically highlighted corruption as an obstacle to direct investments in Montenegro, and corruption is considered one of the typical obstacles that must be overcome when doing business in the country, according to the report on the Investment Climate published by the State Department, reports Tanjug.
According to that document, Montenegro has taken steps to improve the inefficiency of the court system, because court proceedings often result in long and protracted trials, RTCG reported.
“Procedural laws have been amended in the last few years to improve the efficiency of the procedure in accordance with the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights. It should be noted that most of the appeals sent to the European Court of Human Rights against Montenegro concern Article Six of the Convention, the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time,” states the State Department’s report, noting that certain steps have been taken to improve the situation advance that plan.
It is emphasized that corruption and the perception of corruption are significant problems in the public and private sectors of Montenegro.
“Corruption routinely ranks high on the list of citizens’ concerns in public opinion polls, in addition to the risks cited by foreign investors. Over the past year, the Government has made some progress in the fight against corruption. The Special Prosecutor’s Office launched several high-level corruption investigations that resulted in the arrest of the former president of the Supreme Court and the former president of the Commercial Court. Further arrests in the past year include former members of the management of the state company Plantaže, as well as a prominent prosecutor from the special prosecutor’s office,” the report emphasizes.
Obstacle to investments
The government encourages state institutions and the private sector to establish internal codes of conduct, according to the report.
“They are encouraged to have codes of ethics, as well as an obligation to have preventive integrity plans. “Montenegro is a signatory to the UN Convention against Corruption,” the report says.
“Several American companies have highlighted corruption as an obstacle to direct investments in Montenegro, and corruption is considered one of the typical obstacles that must be overcome when doing business in the country. Corruption in Montenegro is most widespread in the public procurement sector. The purchase and sale of state property takes place in a non-transparent environment with frequent accusations of bribery and cronyism,” states the State Department.
The privatization process in Montenegro is currently in its final phase, the document says.
“Most of the companies that have not yet been privatized are of strategic importance for the Montenegrin economy and operate in the fields of energy, transport and tourism,” the report stated.
Source : AL JAZEERA
