Study visit #Justice4Moldova: Good practices from Montenegro on rule of law reforms and the integrity of justice in the context of EU accession
The Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), in partnership with the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), within the #Justice4Moldova project, funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Soros Foundation Moldova, organized, on February 12–13, 2026, a study visit to Podgorița, Montenegro, for a group of investigative journalists and representatives of civil society from the Republic of Moldova.
The purpose of the visit was to provide practical perspectives on the process of reforming the rule of law in Montenegro in the context of the EU accession negotiations to the European Union, with a focus on Chapters 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security). The study visit was prepared as an opportunity to review how the EU accession criterias are translated into institutional practices, how integrity mechanisms are operationalized and how civil society and the media contribute to strengthening public accountability, while respecting procedural safeguards.
The agenda of the visit included meetings with representatives of the investigative media, civil society organisations, think tanks and representatives of the executive authorities responsible for coordinating the accession negotiations to the European Union. Discussions focused on turning reform strategies into measurable results, strengthening integrity mechanisms, including asset declarations, preventing conflicts of interest, ethical norms and disciplinary mechanisms, and the role of independent media and civil society in ensuring accountability in the justice sector.
The visit allowed participants from the Republic of Moldova to interact directly with practitioners and monitoring actors from Montenegro involved in an advanced EU accession process, facilitating the in-depth exchange of experience and best practices. At the same time, it contributed to the establishment of professional contacts and cooperation channels between civil society and media profesionals of the Republic of Moldova and Montenegro, ensuring the further exchange of experience on judicial reforms and the strengthening of integrity mechanisms in the context of the accession process to the European Union.
The visit was organized within the project “Ensuring the integrity, efficiency and independence of the justice system in Moldova – #Justice4Moldova, funded by the European Union and co-financed by the Soros Foundation Moldova. This material was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of IPRE. The content of the material belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
