The Centre for Monitoring and Research (CeMI) is organising the national conference entitled “Rule of Law at the Final Stage of Negotiations: Results and Challenges in the Fight against Organised Crime and High-Level Corruption”, which will take place on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, at the Hilton Hotel, Crystal A Hall, in Podgorica, starting at 13:00.

The Conference will bring together representatives of the judiciary, prosecution service, executive branch, EU accession negotiation structures, the European Union, the diplomatic corps and civil society, and present research findings on trial monitoring, financial investigations and priorities for closing Chapter 24.

The Conference holds particular significance as it has been designated a satellite event of the 2026 EU Enlargement Forum: “Wider Europe – Stronger Europe”, the European Commission’s flagship event, scheduled to take place on 16 November 2026.

As Montenegro enters the final stage of its EU accession negotiations, progress in the area of the rule of law is increasingly measured by tangible results in the implementation of legislation, institutional efficiency and the capacity of institutions to address the challenges posed by organised crime and high-level corruption. These results, the remaining obstacles and the priorities for the period ahead will be at the centre of the Conference.

The event will bring together representatives of the judiciary, prosecution service, executive branch, EU accession negotiation structures, European Union institutions, the diplomatic corps and civil society. Its aim is to present the findings of CeMI's trial-monitoring activities and research, while fostering expert discussion on the impact of financial investigations, the permanent confiscation of proceeds of crime and the fulfilment of the closing benchmarks under Chapter 24.

Opening Remarks:

The Conference will be opened by:

• Prof. Dr Zlatko Vujović, President of the Governing Board, CeMI;
• H.E. Martijn Elgersma, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Montenegro;
• H.E. Johan Sattler, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro;
• Valentina Pavličić, President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro;
• Milorad Marković, Supreme State Prosecutor;
• Bojan Božović, Minister of Justice.

The opening session will be moderated by Jelena Ćorluka, Editor-in-Chief of Nova TV.

Panel I - From Trial Monitoring to a More Efficient Judiciary:

The first panel will focus on the presentation of the Annual Report on Trial Monitoring in Montenegro (August 2024 – April 2026).

The discussion will address the duration and efficiency of court proceedings, procedural obstacles, judicial practice in organised crime and high-level corruption cases, the quality of judicial reasoning and case law, as well as recommendations for improving the functioning of the judiciary.

The report's findings and the challenges in this area will be presented and discussed by:

• Zoran Radović, President of the Higher Court in Podgorica;
• Jelena Grdinić, Head of the Working Group for Chapter 23 Negotiations and member of Montenegro's EU Accession Negotiating Team, responsible for Cluster 1 – Fundamentals;
• Bojana Franović, Attorney-at-Law with experience in organised crime and high-level corruption cases;
• Dr Gordana Mitrović, Head of CeMI's Legal Department, who will present the report's key findings.

The panel will be moderated by Ksenija Jovićević-Korać, Secretary of the Supreme Court of Montenegro.

Panel II - Closing Benchmarks on the Table: Priorities for Closing Chapter 24:

The second panel will focus on Montenegro's priorities in meeting the closing benchmarks in the fight against organised crime, through the presentation of the study “Steps Towards Closing Chapter 24: Montenegro's Priorities in Meeting the Closing Benchmarks in the Fight against Organised Crime”.

The discussion will focus on Montenegro's track record in combating organised crime, the closing benchmarks, institutional capacities and coordination, the implementation of reforms, and priorities in the final stage of EU accession negotiations.

The panel will feature:

• Predrag Zenović, Chief Negotiator of Montenegro with the European Union;
• Jovana Mijović, Head of the Working Group for Chapter 24 Negotiations;
• Sergej Sekulović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice;
• Prof. Dr Zlatko Vujović, President of CeMI's Governing Board, who will present the study's key findings.

The panel will be moderated by Danijela Lasica, Editor at TV Vijesti.

Panel III - Crime Does Not Pay: From Financial Investigations to the Permanent Confiscation of Assets:

The third panel will address the importance of financial investigations and the effective confiscation of proceeds of crime, through the presentation of the study “The Effects of Financial Investigations in Montenegro (2023–2026): Contribution to Detecting and Confiscating the Proceeds of Crime”.

The discussion will cover parallel financial investigations, tracing financial flows, temporary and permanent confiscation of assets, the management of confiscated assets, institutional coordination and practical challenges.

The following speakers will address these issues:

• Erdan Dacić, Head of the Sector for the Management of Confiscated Assets;
• Marko Lakić, President of the Chamber of Court Experts of Montenegro and IT Expert;
• Marko Radović, Attorney-at-Law with experience in organised crime and high-level corruption cases;
• Dr Gordana Mitrović, Head of CeMI's Legal Department, who will present the study's key findings.

The panel will be moderated by Jelena Ćorluka, Editor-in-Chief of Nova TV.

The Conference will conclude with final remarks and recommendations, summarising the key conclusions emerging from the three panel discussions.

Through the presentation of research findings and dialogue among representatives of relevant institutions, the judiciary, EU accession negotiation structures and civil society, CeMI aims to contribute to an assessment of the results achieved and the remaining challenges in the area of the rule of law, as well as to the formulation of concrete recommendations for strengthening the institutional response to organised crime and high-level corruption in Montenegro.

The Conference is organised within the framework of the project “Open Trials: Monitoring Organised Crime and High-Level Corruption Trials in Montenegro”, implemented by CeMI in cooperation with the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.