A delegation of the National Assembly’s European Integration Committee took part in the 14th Conference of the European Integration/Affairs Committees of States Participating in the Stabilisation and Association Process of the South-East Europe (COSAP) organized by the Parliament of Montenegro, 2-3 December 2018 in Podgorica.
The delegation of the European Integration Committee comprised MP Haji Milorad Stosic. The meeting was also attended by parliamentary representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro in the capacity of COSAP members. Representatives of the parliaments of EU member states, the Government of Montenegro, EU Delegation to Montenegro, diplomatic corps and representatives of the academic community were also among the attending.
The topics discussed at the Conference were "Is there a border to the EU - process and possibilities of enlargement" and "Parliamentary dimension of the EU accession process".
In his address, Haji Milorad Stosic highlighted the importance of the EU Enlargement Strategy which had sent the clear message that the prospects of enlargement to include the Western Balkans are real. Recognizing the Republic of Serbia as one of the leaders of the Euro-integration process and 2025 as the possible year of its accession to the European Union sends a positive signal. He emphasized the importance of the Berlin Process which has in the last couple of years become a stable form of cooperation in the Western Balkans. He informed the attending that 55% of Serbian citizens endorse the country’s EU accession, adding that Serbia has opened 14 negotiation chapters, two of which have been temporarily closed, and has further 7 ready to open.
In the course of discussion on the parliamentary dimension of the EU accession process, Haji Milorad Stosic spoke of the National Assembly’s supervisory role in the accession talks, the importance of the Resolution on the Role of the National Assembly and Principles in the Negotiations on the Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, consultations with the civil society prior to the negotiation position proposals being considered by the European Integration Committee, the Assembly’s cooperation with the parliaments of EU member states and the countries in the region and the overall importance of regional cooperation which is one of the priorities of Serbia’s foreign policy.
In the exchange on the stabilization and association and EU accession process, the parliamentarians discussed the EU Enlargement Strategy, the conclusions of the EU - Western Balkans Summit in Sofia and the Western Balkans Summit in London, political and social consensus on the EU accession process, the countries’ readiness for the EU accession process, the EU’s readiness for enlargement, relationship between the parliament and government in the EU accession process, role of parliamentary diplomacy and regional cooperation in the EU accession process, as well as the parliamentary dimension of the Berlin Process.
No Joint Statement was adopted at the end of the Conference because no consensus could be reached on the amendments submitted to the Draft Joint Statement. In the discussion on the amendments submitted by the National Assembly delegation concerning the reformulation of the terms “Western Balkan states” and “states in the region”, the Albanian parliamentary delegation did not accept Serbia’s amendments. The delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina accepted the amendments of the National Assembly delegation. In the course of the discussion part of the delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro agreed with the formulation of the amendments of the National Assembly delegation. The Albanian delegation submitted an amendment commending so-called “Kosovo’s” progress to visa liberalization with the EU. The delegations of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not accept the amendments. There was no discussion on the amendment of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina condemning the violation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and CEFTA by so-called “Kosovo” and expressing concern because of the repression and violence of so-called “Kosovo’s” institutions over the Serb population.
The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia will be the host of the 15th COSAP.
