European Alliance criticizes Montenegro's anti-corruption agency

The European Alliance (ES) has criticized Montenegro’s Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK) following a controversial decision regarding the status of a Fiscal Council member. According to the ES, the ASK issued an opinion stating that a member of the Fiscal Council, appointed by the Parliament of Montenegro, does not hold the status of a public official.

The Agency reportedly justified this by claiming the Fiscal Council does not conduct administrative procedures and that the term “appointment” does not automatically categorize an individual as a public official. However, the European Alliance disputes this, citing the Law on Budget and Fiscal Responsibility, which defines the Fiscal Council as a legal entity with professional functions and prohibits its members from holding other public offices.