President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović today received Ms Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, Director for the Western Balkans at the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, Mr Dirk Lange, Head of Unit for Montenegro in the Directorate General for Enlargement of the European Commission, and Mr Aivo Orav, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro.
At the meeting, they discussed the priorities of the Parliament in the upcoming period, especially with regard to completion of the Euro-Atlantic integration process. The President of the Parliament of Montenegro emphasized the responsibility of the Parliament in considering and adopting laws, especially when it comes to regulations relating to EU integration.
- In the following period, we will work intensively on restoring the role and reputation of the Parliament in accordance with its constitutional powers, since the process of harmonisation with the EU acquis requires close and structured dialogue between the Government and the Parliament, as well as among all other participants in the political life of Montenegro, Mr Brajović said.
The interlocutors agreed that constructive political dialogue in the Parliament was of key importance for the country in the integration process
At the meeting, they expressed satisfaction over the fact that, following the recommendations of this year's Progress Report, the Parliament of Montenegro has made a step towards strengthening the capacities for control over the budget. Namely, on 16 September, in cooperation with the Westminster Foundation and the British Embassy, the Parliament started the project "Parliamentary Budget Office", whose aim is to provide support to MPs in the exercise of parliamentary control over the budget.
The Montenegrin Parliament, also, is one of the few which has made harmonisation of laws an integral obligation of all committees. That means that negotiation positions for every chapter must be approved by the Committee on European Integration and lead committee dealing with the said field.
