LONG TERM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF MONTENEGRO AND THE GENEVA CENTRE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF ARMED FORCES (DCAF)

Datum objave: 23.02.2008 05:09 | Autor: MINISTARSKA KONFERENCIJA

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LONG TERM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION OF MONTENEGRO




AND

THE GENEVA CENTRE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL
OF ARMED FORCES (DCAF)








Background

Contracting Parties:

the Ministry of Interior and Public Administration of Montenegro (hereinafter referred to as “the Ministry”) and

the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (hereinafter referred to as “DCAF”).

DCAF has gained substantial experience in the area of reform and democratic control of the security sector. Its “Operations Division” provides concrete assistance to governments, parliaments, civil society and other partners on the ground. DCAF’s Border Security Programme currently aims to support governments in South Eastern Europe in the creation of reliable and efficient border security systems in line with EU requirements. This is done by providing assistance that is as comprehensive as possible, ranging from national capacity-building through to the development of regional cooperation mechanisms.

In 2001, DCAF together with Governments in South-Eastern Europe established a comprehensive Programme to assist them in the creation of a reliable and efficient border security system and intended to address the strategic needs and issues involved in this process.

Ensuring the security of each country demands not merely an efficient border security system, but much better co-operation between all the agencies and organisations involved, not just at the national level but at the Regional and wider international level. The vision to overcome past difficulties and thus to foster good will between the countries of the Region in order to jointly tackle the fight against organised crime, became an implicit part of this common Border Security Programme. It aims to encourage a strengthening of cross border relations and to enhance further cooperation between the national border services.

The Montenegro sharing together with its neighbour’s key position in this Programme

In the Programme, tailor-made projects are designed to reach all levels of personnel working in the field of Border Security, and topics covered in the Programme include the following priority areas:
• Legal reform,
• Strategic and organisational structure, leadership and management,
• Logistical support,
• Education and training
• Risk analysis, criminal intelligence and investigation
• Blue border surveillance
• Operational Guidelines for Station Commanders
• Advanced Distance Learning Course for Regional Commanders
The Programme has built up a large network of senior officials from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland and has established close working relations with a number of international actors.
2. Objectives

Both the Ministry of Interior and Public Administration of Montenegro and DCAF are convinced that their common goals are to increase the level of security in South Eastern Europe, especially through effective and efficient border management, and as such both organizations can profit from strengthening their cooperation on matters of common interest, particularly in programme development and implementation, in the field of Border Security/ Border Management. This cooperation should significantly strengthen the flow of information between the two organizations, result, wherever feasible and appropriate, in joint projects, better pooling of staff and expertise, foster synergies, provide cost benefit efficiency, and thus generally increase the operational capabilities of both organisations.

This Long Term Strategic Partnership Agreement sets forth the principles that will guide this increased cooperation between the two parties during the current period of the Montenegro accession to the European Union (EU) and the period when the Montenegro will be a full member of the EU. It will include common activities for support and assistance to national capacity building, strengthen the capabilities for enhanced operational cooperation between neighbouring countries and transform the lessons learned from this process to countries out of the Region.


3. Areas of Cooperation

I. In the area of LEGAL REFORM with the following aims:
a. to create the legal preconditions for carrying out national duties in the field of border management (Laws and sub-laws) and for the implementation of cross border activities (Bilateral and multilateral International Agreements ).
b. to deepen the existing knowledge and understanding of the legal experts with the formats and substance of EU acquis, EU standards, and legislation of neighbouring countries.

II. In the area of LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT with the aim of:
Developing a Manual of Joint Standardised Operational Procedures which will contain rules and regulations, recommendations and best practices for border police/border guard services about the following issues:
• regular meetings in order to hold contacts between Border Police Leaders at local, regional and national levels,
• National Contact Points for regional or cross border liaison,
• integrated border crossing points (common border checks inter-alia),
• joint patrols,
• liaison/desk officers network,
• common risk analysis and joint investigation,
• joint operations,
• common information management.
As a permanent reminder for the realisation of cross border cooperation, the Manual will transform the political will, as described in the Sarajevo Ministerial Declaration-2006 and Vienna Convention for Police Cooperation in SEE, to the practical guidelines and tools required for successful Integrated Border Management.



III. In the area of EDUCATION & TRAINING with the following aims:
a. to evaluate basic, advanced and vocational educational and training programmes for border guards in order to bring them to the line with the contemporary requirements of border management and relate the result of education and training process with the performance of the individual serviceman.
b. harmonize education and training curricula between countries in the Region in order to make available implementation of cross border operational cooperation

IV. In the area of RISK ANALYSIS, CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATION with the following aims:
a. the creation of documents needed for the improvement of a Criminal Intelligence, Investigation and Risk Analysis cells and cooperation procedures between them.
b. the creation of a Manual with the Standard Operational Procedures to co-ordinate activities related with conducting Risk Analysis on tactical, operational and strategic level and criminal intelligence and investigations in the move towards common information management.
c. the exploration of possibilities and reasonability for establishment of Common Information Centres (CIC), in order to start the move towards common information management between the countries in the Region accompanied with elaboration and creation of descriptions of day to day working procedures.
d. the preparation of the agreements, which will allow efficient common actions between relevant authorities responsible for implementation of full intelligence circle, and carrying out common investigation and Risk Analyses.

V. In the area of LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS AND SPECIAL TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FOR BORDER CONTROL & SURVEILLANCE

A. In the area of telecommunication and IT networks with the aims:
a. to support the preparation of National and Regional Projects in accordance with EU project standards, which will allow technical interoperability of communication systems and IT networks with the EU and between the neighboring countries,
b. to prepare the necessary preconditions, for the building and use of common infrastructure and technical facilities in order to provide possibilities for efficient exchange of information among the border services of neighboring countries,
c. to create a network and to establish active contacts, which will allow efficient exchange of information, knowledge and experience between experts,
d. to coordinate issues of information security and protection in cross border communications,
e. to exchange expertise regarding harmonization of national information systems with European information systems (SIS, FADO and EURODAC),
f. to define sets of data not covered by the existing international data exchange systems (Interpol), which are of common interest and if there is a need for the exchange thereof,
g. to prepare a common data dictionary and functionality,
h. to work on the "Communication Manual" to be used for communication between neighbouring border services,
i. to define protocols and the modes of implementation with respect to the specifications of European information systems.

B. In the area of Special Technical Equipment for Border Control & Surveillance with the following aims:
a. to keep each-other informed about latest technological developments in the field of special equipment for surveillance of green border and border checks,
b. to hold regular meetings and exchange information about the condition and plans in the field of special technical equipment in their countries,
c. to evaluate possible technical solutions regarding the cross-border special technical equipment and prepare proposals for common interest joint projects,
d. harmonization plans for development of special technical equipment regarding EU standards,
e. to make donations of equipment available

VI. In the area of ADVANCED DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES

A. at the level of Regional Commanders with the aim of:
a. improving professionalism in setting up and running border security systems at the regional and national headquarter level in the framework of EU/Schengen standards,.
b. improving English language skills and capabilities to use the possibilities provided by information technology.

EU requirements form a common base for the majority of themes. Lectures deal with practical regional level arrangements. Common interactive learning will form a basis for future regional cooperation.

Selection of participants who fully meet the required professional criteria and the enhancement of their English language skills is the shared responsibility.

B. at the level of Station Commanders with the aim:
a. to improve leadership skills of carefully selected station commanders, their deputies and promising team leaders with definite career perspective in order to improve their capabilities to plan, organize and control day by day Service and motivate their co-workers to make better performance in service of citizens.
b. to improve communication skills and increase stress tolerance of Servicemen for achieving in everyday Service level of EU best practices


4. Financial Aspects and Human Resources

Personnel: The provision of highly qualified experts to take part in commonly planned activities is in the strong interest of both parties.

Exchange of Information: Both parties will inform each other of their individually planned activities in order to better use resources available and avoid duplication of effort.

Data Pooling: Both parties will pool their experts, relevant contact persons, and other personalities and institutions relevant for their work.

Exchange/Secondment of Staff and Experts: Both parties offer each other for specific events (subject to their availability given in house commitments), and for long and short term secondments, experts currently working in their staff.

Workshops, Seminars, Round Tables and Platform Functions: Both parties intend to jointly organize and conduct, where appropriate, workshops, seminars and round tables. Whenever possible, each party will invite representatives from the other organization to attend activities of mutual interest.

Finances:
a. In order to share the financial burden, parties will look into the possibilities for making common applications for EU funds/tenders.
b. If participation in commonly designed Courses, (ADL), requires a sufficient level of English Language Training, this will be a national responsibility.


5. Procedures of Cooperation

The Ministry of Interior and Public Administration of Montenegro and DCAF staff should consult regularly on matters of common interest to realise their respective objectives and facilitate their respective activities

The Ministry of Interior and Public Administration of Montenegro and DCAF shall exchange information on developments made in any fields and projects that are of mutual interest, to promote effective coordination, avoid duplication of effort and to strengthen border security in the Montenegro and the Region.

As appropriate, consultation shall be arranged at the required level between representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Public Administration of Montenegro and DCAF, to agree upon the most effective way in which to organise particular activities and to optimise the use of mutual resources in compliance with their respective mandates.

At the working level, coordination meetings will take place twice a year in order to discuss plans for cooperation and to assess the results of that cooperation.


6. Points of Contact

The overall Point of Contact at the Ministry of Interior and Public Administration of Montenegro will be:
Mr. / Ms.
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:


The Points of Contact at DCAF will be:
Mr Goran Krsteski
Phone: 00 41 22 741 77 57
Fax: 0041 22 741 77 96
E-mail: g.krsteski@dcaf.ch

7. Duration and Modification of the Agreement

This Agreement is concluded for the duration of four years after signature. It can, upon mutual agreement, be extended for further periods of four years each.

Upon mutual consent, the Parties can, at any time, amend this Agreement.

Both Parties to this Agreement reserve their right to terminate the Agreement at any time – subject to their honouring of any financial commitments they may have entered into, with respect to specific individual events and activities within the framework of the annual planning, prior to their withdrawing from this agreement

This Agreement is done in two copies, each in English, of which one will be kept by each Party.



For the Ministry of Interior and Public For the Geneva Centre for the Democratic
Administration of Montenegro Control of Armed Forces





H.E. Mr. Jusuf Kalamperović, Ambassador Dr Theodor H Winkler
Minister Director DCAF