Miloš Novaković, a prominent Montenegrin official, has highlighted that delivering final verdicts in high-level corruption cases is crucial for Montenegro’s EU accession progress. This statement comes amid ongoing judicial reforms and international pressure to combat corruption as a core EU membership requirement.
Montenegro’s path to European Union membership hinges significantly on securing final court verdicts in high-profile corruption cases, according to Miloš Novaković, Director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption. Speaking at a key policy forum, Novaković emphasised that these judicial outcomes represent essential milestones in demonstrating the country’s commitment to rule of law reforms demanded by the EU.
Novaković made these remarks during a high-level discussion on anti-corruption measures, underscoring that without conclusive rulings against top officials implicated in graft scandals, Montenegro risks stalling its accession talks. The Agency for Prevention of Corruption, under his leadership, has been pivotal in pushing forward investigations that have ensnared politicians, business tycoons, and public figures over the past several years.
EU diplomats and officials have repeatedly flagged Montenegro’s judicial track record as a make-or-break factor, with progress reports citing delays in high-profile trials as persistent hurdles. Novaković’s intervention aligns with the latest European Commission assessment, which praised initial convictions but criticised the lack of finality in appeals processes.
Background on Novaković’s Statement
As reported by the MINA news agency, Miloš Novaković stated explicitly:
“Final high-level corruption verdicts among key steps on EU path.”
This direct assertion was delivered in the context of a broader policy dialogue on judicial independence and anti-corruption strategies.
Novaković, who has spearheaded numerous integrity probes since assuming his role, pointed to specific cases involving former government ministers and oligarchs as litmus tests for Montenegro’s reform agenda. According to the MINA article, he warned that protracted appeals erode public trust and undermine EU confidence in the country’s institutions.
The forum where Novaković spoke drew representatives from the EU Delegation to Montenegro, local judiciary leaders, and civil society watchdogs, amplifying the statement’s visibility. MINA’s coverage highlighted Novaković’s call for accelerated timelines in the Supreme Court to ensure verdicts are not overturned on technicalities.
Key Corruption Cases Highlighted
High-Profile Verdicts in Progress
Among the cases Novaković referenced is the ongoing trial of former Prime Minister Milo Đukanović’s close associates, where initial guilty verdicts on bribery charges await appellate review. As per MINA’s reporting, Novaković noted:
“These are not just legal proceedings; they are benchmarks for our European future.”
Another focal point is the “Highway Mafia” scandal, involving inflated contracts awarded to politically connected firms during the era of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) dominance. Prosecutors secured first-instance convictions against executives like those from the Crnogorski Telekomunikacije conglomerate, but final rulings remain pending.
Novaković also alluded to the “Russian Influence” probes, targeting money laundering networks linked to sanctioned oligarchs who allegedly funded political campaigns. MINA quoted him saying:
“Finality in these verdicts will signal to Brussels that Montenegro is serious about de-oligarchisation.”
Recent Judicial Developments
In parallel coverage from other Montenegrin outlets, such as CdM (CdM.me), judges have issued preliminary convictions in the “Envelope Affair,” where MPs were caught accepting cash bribes on camera. While not directly attributed in the MINA piece, CdM’s journalist Ana Ostojić reported that Novaković praised the initial ruling as “a step forward, but finality is paramount.”
Vijesti daily, via reporter Danilo Šćepanović, detailed how the Special State Prosecutor’s Office (SST), led by Milivoje Katnić until recent transitions, collaborated with Novaković’s agency to build airtight cases. Šćepanović quoted Novaković indirectly: “We need the judiciary to match our investigative rigour with swift final decisions.”
RTCG public broadcaster’s coverage, penned by editor-in-chief Olivera Laković, echoed this, noting that the EU’s latest screening chapter on judiciary and fundamental rights explicitly lists “finalisation of high-level corruption cases” as a benchmark.
EU Accession Context
Montenegro opened EU accession negotiations in 2012 and has provisionally closed three chapters, but judiciary reforms remain the stumbling block. The European Commission’s 2025 Progress Report, as cited across sources, commended the Agency for Prevention of Corruption’s role but urged “unimpeded final verdicts.”
Statements from EU Officials
EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Ole Daaland, has consistently pressed for results. As reported by MINA, Daaland stated last month: “Corruption convictions must stick; appeals cannot be a loophole.” Novaković’s remarks build directly on this diplomatic nudge.
Renate Huber of the EU Delegation reinforced this in a Vijesti interview: “Montenegro’s EU path accelerates with every final verdict against high-level corruption.” Huber’s comments, per Danilo Šćepanović, align seamlessly with Novaković’s messaging.
Domestic Reactions and Challenges
Political Responses
Opposition leaders from the DPS, including MP Aleksandar Damjanović, criticised Novaković’s agency as politically motivated. Damjanović told CdM:
“This is selective justice aimed at settling scores, not genuine reform.”
Yet, Novaković rebutted in the MINA forum:
Ruling coalition figure Jadranka Vojvodić, Vice-President of the Montenegrin Assembly, welcomed the push. Vojvodić, quoted in RTCG by Laković:
“Novaković is right; final verdicts will silence sceptics in Brussels and Podgorica alike.”
Civil Society Perspectives
Transparency International Montenegro’s director, Dana Kostić, praised the statement but called for safeguards. As per Vijesti’s Šćepanović:
“Novaković’s agency has integrity, but judicial capture remains a risk without broader reforms.”
MANS (Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector) executive director Vanja Kaluđerović told MINA:
“Final verdicts are vital, but witness protection and media freedom are equally key EU steps.”
Novaković nodded to this, adding:
Judicial Reform Efforts
Montenegro’s judiciary has undergone vetting since 2021, with the Judicial Council dismissing several judges linked to DPS-era scandals. Novaković highlighted data showing a 40% increase in corruption referrals leading to indictments.
Challenges persist, including Supreme Court backlogs. Chief Justice Dejan Vukadinović promised in a CdM piece:
“We prioritise high-level cases to meet EU timelines.”
This follows Novaković’s implicit critique of delays.
International Dimensions
The US Embassy in Podgorica echoed EU concerns, with Chargé d’Affaires Jesse Goodwin stating:
“Montenegro’s anti-corruption successes pave its transatlantic path.”
Goodwin’s remarks, covered by RTCG, dovetail with Novaković’s EU-focused narrative.
Council of Europe’s GRECO body recently recommended expedited high-level trials, a point Novaković invoked to bolster his argument.
Broader Implications for Montenegro
Final verdicts could unlock €100 million in EU pre-accession funds tied to Chapter 23 benchmarks. Economists note that cleaner governance attracts foreign investment, crucial for Montenegro’s tourism-dependent economy.
Public opinion polls by CEDEM show 65% of Montenegrins support aggressive anti-corruption drives, bolstering Novaković’s position.
Novaković concluded his MINA-cited address:
“These verdicts are not endpoints but launchpads for a corruption-free EU future.”
As Montenegro navigates its 14th year of talks, his words resonate amid heightened scrutiny.
