Montenegro Urged to Probe PM's Family Bank

European Parliamentarians have submitted 155 amendments to a draft resolution on Montenegro, which will be discussed in February, most of which urge Podgorica to tackle political corruption, vote-buying accusations and the state Telekom privatization affair.

The resolution drafted by the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee urges "once again" a follow-up to the "Audio-recording affair". Swedish MEP Jasenko Selimovic urged Montenegro to do this before the next elections planned this year.

The affair broke in February 2013 after media published transcripts of leaked tapes of sessions of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS.

In the leaks, party officials appeared to promise jobs and loans to supporters and donors to the election campaign.

The prosecution in Podgorica has already conducted an investigation into alleged abuses of state funds and abuse of office in the election concerning the DPS, led by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, but ruled that no criminal action took place.

The resolution notes that, despite positive legislative changes, corruption remains a serious concern in Montenegro and welcomes the establishment of the Special Prosecutor's Office with the task of combating corruption.

The Parliament says it is concerned that the reported number of final convictions in organised crime cases and the number of seizures and confiscations of criminal assets has remained low and it seeks better cooperation between judicial and law enforcement authorities.

Two Austrian and UK MEPs, Ulrike Lunacek and Terry Reintke, have submitted an amendment calling for a start to investigations into and prosecutions of high-level cases including alleged money laundering by Prva Banka (First Bank), which is owned by...