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.