Support to Parliamentary Institutions

The Project to Support Parliamentary Institutions (SPI) was created as a joint initiative of the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The objectives of this €1.5 Million project are to strengthen the capacities of MPs and parliamentary staff of Montenegro (and of Serbia); to develop an efficient legislative process in their respective parliaments, in line with their constitutional mandates; to provide targeted assistance covering legal harmonisation as required by the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP); to develop inter-parliamentary relations of the Parliament, to facilitate the emergence of the European-minded leadership and constructive political dialogue; and to facilitate international contacts through language trainings and by enabling MPs and administrators to have independent access to information on the Internet.

The project started in November 2005 for a two–year period. Since the beginning of the project intensive cooperation was established with the Parliament of Montenegro and a series of activities took place, targeting both MPs and parliamentary staff. The activities consist of a range of Round tables followed by study visits to some EU Member States Parliaments, as well as to the PACE and the EU Parliament. These visits are dedicated to such topics as the separation of powers; legislative initiative and parliamentary control; work of parliamentary committees.  English language courses were also organised. Finally, study visits to countries that have recently completed the process of democratic transition will also take place, as well as computer trainings.  

The Montenegrin Parliament expressed its wish to extend the project for an additional period. This proposal will be soon forwarded by PACE officially to the EAR.