More than 30 Members of Parliament, representatives from the Assembly of Montenegro, and the State Audit Institution gathered in Podgorica for the presentation of the analysis titled “Strengthening Budgetary Oversight of the Assembly of Montenegro” on Thursday 24 October. 

The analysis conducted by WFD explores the current model of parliamentary budget oversight in Montenegro. The main objective of both the document and its presentation was to initiate a discussion on whether Montenegro should maintain this model or consider alternative solutions, based on best practices highlighted in the report. 

Key recommendations from the analysis include extending the review period for the Annual Audit Report (AR) to allow more thorough analysis, enhancing the role of committees, establishing a structured system for tracking the implementation of recommendations, introducing or strengthening follow-up hearings, and increasing capacity and resources for oversight. These recommendations aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing model, ensuring better outcomes in fiscal management and accountability.

The event was opened by H.E. Dawn McKen, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Montenegro who emphasized that this is an opportunity for exchanging ideas and experiences that can strengthen the transparency and accountability of Montenegrin institutions. 

“The openness of institutions is crucial for strengthening democracy and citizens' trust in their institutions. Cooperation with auditors plays a vital role in this process. I am pleased that some of the key recommendations of this analysis relate to strengthening the role of the Committee on Economy, Finance, and Budget,” said Ambassador McKen and highlighted that through this initiative, the Embassy demonstrates that the United Kingdom is a partner in strengthening capacity and democracy. 

Reiterating the main conclusions of the analysis, Ana Milutinović, Country Director of WFD in Montenegro said that this analysis serves as a good starting point for further discussions on the Montenegrin model of cooperation between the Parliament and State Audit Institution. 

" WFD is committed to enhancing parliamentary oversight in Montenegro by providing targeted support and expertise. By facilitating training, sharing best practices, and promoting collaborative approaches, we aim to ensure that Montenegro’s parliamentary processes are not only effective but also accountable. We believe that a robust parliamentary system is crucial for promoting transparency, improving governance, and ultimately fostering citizens' trust in their democratic institutions", noted Milutionovic.

Boris Mugoša, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Economy, Finance, and Budget emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, highlighting some of the achieved results.

"Following the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation with Westminster Foundation for Democracy, we established a very important institution – the Parliamentary Budget Office. WFD provided tremendous support in creating an Action Plan for the fulfilment of obligations outlined in the Protocol of Cooperation with the State Audit Institution. I am pleased to inform you that just a few days ago we began the implementation of one very important obligation from that document, which is to suggest specific audit subjects for inclusion in the annual plan of that institution through intensive communication with the State Audit Institution", said Mugoša.

The presentation was facilitated by Franklin de Vrieze, WFD Head of Practice (Accountability). The event also featured addresses of Nikola Kovačević, president of the Senate of the State Audit Institution and Aleksandar Klarić, Secretary General of the Assembly of Montenegro, while the analysis was presented by the expert Geoff Dubrow.