Bečić and Šaranović hold productive meeting with Europol Executive Director

Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Internal Policy, European and Foreign Affairs Aleksa Bečić and Minister of the Interior Danilo Šaranović met with Executive Director of Europol Catherine De Bolle at Europol headquarters to discuss their ongoing successful collaboration and further modalities to strengthen operational cooperation.

Bečić expressed gratitude to the Europol Executive Director and the entire team for their significant support and genuine partnership. He emphasised the impressive results achieved in recent months, attributing them to strong partnership and trust among the security sector, prosecution, and Europol. Bečić highlighted the importance of preserving and enhancing collaboration and trust, stating that no obstruction attempts could disrupt it.

The meeting focused on specific joint activities in combating transnational crime, with strong Europol support for Montenegro's efforts in combating organised crime, particularly in drug and cigarette smuggling, high-level corruption, potential terrorism threats, financial crime, and other modern security threats.

Minister Šaranović emphasised the exceptional cooperation established and reiterated the commitment to intensively combat illegal migration, high-level corruption, and asset seizure through financial investigations. He emphasised that Montenegro remains a trusted partner for fruitful operational cooperation with Europol.

Europol Executive Director De Bolle expressed readiness to support Montenegro and expand cooperation. She appreciated the enhanced cooperation based on mutual trust, direct, open, and continuous operational collaboration, evident in the 25% increase in exchanged data and information.