President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ranko Krivokapić met Council of Europe Secretary General Mr Thorbjørn Jagland, today.

President Krivokapić informed his interlocutor on the significance which the Parliament of Montenegro acquired to meeting Council of Europe standards, stressing ten-year long cooperation with the Venice Commission, especially on the occasion of writing the Constitution and adoption of the electoral law.

President Krivokapić stated that Montenegrin parliamentary scene had been constantly maturing, confirmed by the fact that there was a consensus on some key issues among political parties in Montenegrin Parliament, such as the process of European integration. He said that the Parliament strived constantly to strengthen its capacities, strengthening its oversight role as well as increasing transparency in work, all of which had been recognised in the last European Commission Progress Report.

Mr Jagland assessed as important achieved democracy standards, voicing expectance that those would be additionally improved through further support of the CE.

Following the conversation in the Parliament, President Krivokapić and Council of Europe Secretary General Jagland visited attendees of “Democracy Workshops” – six grade students of primary school “Štampar Makarije” from Podgorica, speaking with them on the role of the Parliament of Montenegro in political system of Montenegro and human rights and democracy.

The project “Democracy Workshops” is organised within the programme “Open Parliament” of the Parliament of Montenegro, aimed at strengthening connections between the Parliament and young people. Over 5000 children from 19 municipalities have attended workshops so far.