Montenegro - finance

Upcoming workshops in Montenegro: Strengthening capacities for financial investigations

20. 11. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

Next week, the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) is launching the first set of workshops in Montenegro as part of the project “Strengthening the capacities for financial investigations in Montenegro.” The workshops will take place on 26 November in Bijelo Polje and on 27 November in Podgorica, bringing together police officers and prosecutors from regional centres across the country.

Building on the findings of the needs analysis and the successful October study visit to Slovenia, the workshops will focus on strengthening the operational and institutional capacities of Montenegrin authorities involved in financial investigations. Participants and Slovenian experts will discuss:

good practices stemming from the Slovenian legislative framework (including ZOPNI),
the role of prosecutors in directing financial investigations,
practical case analysis based on real Slovenian investigations, with emphasis on overcoming bottlenecks,
early detection of financial elements in criminal cases and operational coordination between police and prosecution,
inter-institutional cooperation and shared challenges within the Montenegrin context.

Each workshop includes a dedicated discussion session to identify current obstacles and training needs for 2026. A specialised working group will also convene in Podgorica to advance the preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for financial investigations, a key next step of the project.

These activities mark another important milestone in strengthening professional expertise and cooperation between Montenegrin institutions in the fight against organised crime, corruption, and money laundering.

The project is implemented by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) with the support of the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through Slovenian Aid & Partnerships, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia.

Strengthening financial investigation capacities of Montenegro with a study visit to Slovenia

20. 10. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

From 14 to 17 October 2025, a delegation of 15 representatives from the Ministry of Interior and Police of Montenegro visited Ljubljana and Celje as part of the project “Strengthening the capacities for financial investigations in Montenegro.”

The study visit focused on sharing Slovenian best practices in financial investigations, inter-institutional cooperation, and the fight against organised crime, corruption, and money laundering.

During the four-day visit, participants were introduced to the Slovenian model of financial investigation both at the central and regional levels:
🔹 Mr Jure Palka from the Office for Money Laundering Prevention presented the role and activities of the Bureau and its cooperation with police and prosecutors.

🔹 At the Celje Police Directorate, they learned about the organisational structure and operational coordination of financial and criminal investigations, with practical insights into work at regional and local levels.

🔹 In Ljubljana, the delegation was welcomed by Mr Darko Muženić, Director of the National Bureau of Investigation. Experts from the Bureau presented their work in computer crime, financial crime, and cryptocurrency investigations.

🔹 Representatives of the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia (FURS) and the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office presented examples of good practices, and the legal framework for financial investigations and prosecution.

The CEP expert team, led by Mr David Antolovič and Mr Damijan Turk, led a discussion on the finalised needs analysis, prepared between July and September 2025, and presented its findings and recommendations. The team also delivered a presentation and workshop on upcoming project activities. The visit concluded with a joint agreement to establish a working group that will prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Montenegrin police, aligning operational practice with Slovenian experience.

This study visit represents another step toward strengthening institutional cooperation and enhancing professional capacities in financial investigations in Montenegro.

The project is implemented by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) with the support of the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through Slovenian Aid, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia.

Study visit in Slovenia – Strengthening Capacities in Financial Investigations in Montenegro

13. 10. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

From 14 to 17 October 2025, the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) will host a study visit in Slovenia as part of the project “Strengthening Capacities in the Area of Financial Investigations in Montenegro.”

The project aims to enhance the institutional and operational capacities of Montenegrin authorities in conducting financial investigations, tackling organised crime, and combating money laundering. The study visit will bring together representatives from the Ministry of Interior and Police of Montenegro, the Embassy of Montenegro in Slovenia, and their Slovenian counterparts, including the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia, the Police, and other relevant institutions.

Through a series of workshops, meetings, and field visits in Ljubljana and Celje, participants will exchange experiences and best practices in the areas of financial investigations, asset recovery, anti-corruption measures, and inter-institutional cooperation. The visit will also focus on developing practical approaches and preparing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support future operational work.

This activity represents another important step in the long-term cooperation between Slovenia and Montenegro in strengthening the rule of law and improving the effectiveness of institutions in preventing and investigating financial crime.

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia within the framework of Slovenia’s International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Programme (Slovenia Aid & Partnerships), in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Slovenia.

Conclusion of the first fact-finding visit in Podgorica

14. 7. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

On Friday, 11 July, we concluded the first fact-finding visit to Podgorica, which took place from 9 to 11 July 2025, as part of an ongoing project aimed at strengthening the institutional capacities for financial investigations in Montenegro.

The visit aimed to gain a more in-depth understanding of the current situation and key challenges in the fields of investigative procedures and financial investigations, with Slovenian experts exchanging information with their colleagues at the Montenegrin Ministry of the Interior and Police Administration. The expert team, led by CEP, also held a meeting with Mr Vladimir Novovič, Chief Special Prosecutor at the Special State Prosecutor’s Office and discussed the role of their Office and inter-institutional cooperation.

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through the International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (Slovenia Aid & Partnerships) Programme, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of Interior.

Fact-finding visit in the field of financial investigation to begin in Podgorica

2. 7. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

A working visit to Podgorica will take place from 9 to 11 July 2025 as part of the ongoing project focusing on strengthening the institutional capacities of stakeholders involved in the field of financial investigations in Montenegro. The visit will focus on gaining in-depth insight into the current situation and key challenges in the field of investigative procedures and inter-institutional cooperation.

Slovenian experts from this field will meet with selected counterparts from Montenegro, aiming to exchange information and lay the groundwork for further cooperation and expert support in strengthening the rule of law.

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through the International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (Slovenia Aid & Partnerships) Programme, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of Interior.

Experts from the Bank of Slovenia advise colleagues from Montenegro

18. 10. 2017 | Montenegro - finance, PR

Three experts from the Bank of Slovenia hold a two-day workshop and advise colleagues from the Central Bank of Montenegro in Podgorica on how to harmonize the area of banking supervision and regulation with the requirements of the EU acquis. In the accession negotiations with the EU, the area is covered by Chapter 9: Financial services.

The two-day advisory workshop (17–18 October 2017) is carried out in the framework of the CEP’s project “Assistance to Montenegro in negotiations on accession to the EU 2017”. The workshop’s main focus is the banking supervision and regulation, in particular the methodology for banking supervision and the instructions for the supervision bodies.

The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the scope of international development cooperation.

Read this article in Slovene language.