Montenegro Withdraws Security Agency Law Proposal After Criticism

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On July 30, Montenegro’s ruling majority withdrew the draft Law on the Agency for National Security, ANB, after the civil sector warned that it endangered democratic standards, the rule of law, and human rights in the country.

Photo: Parliament of Montenegro

Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic said the draft law needed to be better communicated to the public and to international partners.

On July 29, BIRN Montenegro’s Executive Director, Vuk Maras, urged the European Commission, NATO, and the Council of Europe to call on the Government of Montenegro to halt adoption of the draft Law on the ANB, warning that the proposal had been prepared without proper consultations, transparency, or legislative safeguards.

The same day, the European Commission Spokesperson for Enlargement, International Partnerships and the Mediterranean, Guillaume Mercier, told the daily Vijesti that the European Commission expected Montenegro to allow it to conduct a thorough analysis of the law before proceeding with the adoption process.

More than 20 leading non-government organisations in Montenegro have called on the Government to withdraw the draft law from procedure so it can be aligned with the Constitution and international standards.