In mid-2003 the Supreme Defence Council adopted a decision under which the Serbia and Montenegro Army put the Montenegrin Interior Ministry in charge of state border security, which the ministry started doing later that year.
Two months ago the Montenegrin police launched a reform which separated the tasks of the public and secret police and the border service. The strategic goals of the border security reform were said to be the protection of Montenegrin interests, Montenegro's democratisation and demilitarisation, and the establishment of an efficient and integral border protection system in line with European Union and Shengen standards.
Two important principles were promoted -- borders must be open to trade, people and regional cooperation and closed to all forms of crime.