The first in-country mission under the Falcone-Borsellino Programme for Central and South-Eastern Europe was held in Podgorica, marking the launch of the Programme's operational activities following its official presentation at the CEI - Executive Secretariat in Trieste in June 2026.
The Programme, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and implemented in cooperation with the CEI Executive Secretariat, aims to strengthen institutional capacities and foster regional cooperation against organised crime and corruption through the exchange of expertise, good practices and operational experience between Italian and partner-country institutions.
Over three days, a seven-member Italian delegation — including representatives of the MAECI Legal Diplomacy Unit and the CEI Executive Secretariat, together with experts from the National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC) and the Guardia di Finanza — held seven institutional meetings. These included bilateral exchanges with the Police Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and the Ministry of Justice, as well as a coordination meeting with the National Focal Points of the Programme for Montenegro, representing the three beneficiary institutions.
The discussions covered the prevention and fight against organised crime, corruption and illicit financial flows, with particular attention to financial investigations and asset recovery, anti-money laundering frameworks, international judicial and law enforcement cooperation, digital evidence, public integrity, whistleblower protection and asset declaration systems, as well as legislative developments and future capacity-building activities.
Luigi De Chiara, Minister Plenipotentiary, Coordinator for Legal Diplomacy at MAECI and Head of the Italian Delegation, underlined the strategic value of the mission.
"The visit to Podgorica was highly effective in defining the operational activities for Montenegro, and we are very grateful to our Montenegrin colleagues for their enthusiasm and cooperation. The Programme addresses an area of great importance in the EU accession process and is a further sign of the strong partnership between Italy and Montenegro."
The mission enabled both sides to identify common priorities and concrete avenues for future cooperation, reaffirming the Programme's demand-driven approach, whereby activities are tailored to the specific needs of each beneficiary country.
The Police Directorate and the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro both welcomed the mission as a valuable platform for exchanging expertise and identifying future joint activities, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation against all forms of organised crime and to building a more effective justice system for the benefit of citizens' security.
Kristina Braletić, Director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption of Montenegro, articulated the institution's commitment to the partnership.
"The Falcone-Borsellino Programme represents an important mechanism for strengthening institutional capacities and enhancing international cooperation in corruption prevention. Through intensive dialogue with our Italian partners, we have exchanged experiences, identified areas of mutual interest and aligned the Programme's future activities with the concrete needs of our institution. The Agency will continue to actively participate in its implementation, with the aim of applying the best international practices in the prevention of and fight against corruption."
As the implementing partner, the CEI - Executive Secretariat coordinated the preparation of the mission and facilitated dialogue among all participating institutions. The Montenegro mission marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Falcone-Borsellino Programme and lays the groundwork for subsequent in-country missions across the beneficiary countries, further strengthening regional cooperation and institutional resilience in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
For further information: radovanovic@cei.int
