In a significant step towards strengthening democratic governance in Montenegro, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has successfully organised a workshop aimed at strengthening the oversight role of the Parliament of Montenegro. The event, which brought together key stakeholders from the Parliament and the State Audit Institution of Montenegro, focused on creating critical operative procedures designed to foster greater cooperation and collaboration between the two institutions.

Led by WFD Associate Geoff Dubrow, the workshop provided a unique platform for participants to engage in open and constructive dialogue, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies for effective collaboration on public fund management. The event was a testament to WFD Montenegro's commitment to supporting democratic development in the country, with a focus on transparency and accountability of the public sector.

The workshop has been a valuable learning experience for representatives of the Parliament, who appreciated the opportunity to share challenges and successes with their peers from SAI Montenegro, learning from each other's experiences. During the intensive three-day sessions, the outline for the standard operating procedure for acting upon SAI reports was drafted.

The operative procedure outlined during the workshop is designed to standardise the Parliament’s approach to act upon audit reports and thus strengthen the oversight of public spending and hold the government accountable for its actions. By enhancing the oversight role of the Parliament, these procedures will ultimately contribute to greater transparency and accountability in public finance management.

"We are proud to be supporting the Parliament and the State Audit Institution in their efforts to strengthen oversight and accountability in Montenegro. This is an important step towards building a more transparent and accountable government that serves the needs of all citizens," said Ana Milutinovich, WFD Montenegro country director.

The workshop is part of WFD Montenegro's ongoing efforts to support democratic development in the country. Through its programs and activities, WFD aims to promote parliamentary democracy, enhance civic engagement, and strengthen institutions.