The Council of Europe Office in Montenegro

The Council of Europe has been present in Montenegro since May 2000, as one of the three Council of Europe Offices in the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Following the independence of Montenegro, the Council of Europe Office in Podgorica has been upgraded into the Council of Europe Office in Montenegro, headed by a Special Representative of the Secretary General. Its status is defined in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and the Council of Europe.

The Office is an establishment of the Council of Europe and, as such, shares the juridical personality of the Council of Europe. The relations between the Council of Europe and its member States are regulated by the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe and its protocols.

From the very beginning the Office has established cooperation with the Government and relevant authorities, as well as with the non-governmental sector, with the aim of promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law. As of 2000 onwards the Council of Europe assisted in a large number of activities, and in particular has provided assistance in legal reforms conducted in Montenegro.

As of its opening, the number of staff in the Office as well as the Office’s activities has constantly increased, as well as the diversity of the assistance provided. The activities are expected to increase furthermore after the Montenegrin accession to the Council of Europe, which took place on 11 May 2007.

Today, the Office provides assistance to a number of institutions and in various areas such as the Parliament, local self-government, prison reform, promotion of human rights standards, action against trafficking in human beings, judicial training, especially on the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Court for Human Rights case-law etc. Special attention is being paid to the cooperation with the Non-Governmental Organisations.

Staff members of the CoE Office:

Ana Zec, Legal Adviser, Interim Head of Office

Nataša Kraljević, LL.M, Project Adviser

Andrej Terzić, Financial Manager

Mihailo Ćupić, Driver

Ana Vukcevic, Assistant to the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Montenegro

Contact details of the CoE Office in Montenegro:

Council of Europe Office in Montenegro

Novaka Miloseva 6

81000 Podgorica

Montenegro

Tel: + 382 20 230 819

+ 382 20 230 825