National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Thursday, 4 April 2013
14th Sitting of the Foreign Affairs Committee
At the sitting held on 4 April, the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee conducted an interview with Dusko Lopandic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, before deployment for diplomatic duty.
Ambassador Lopandic stressed that though Serbia is “at the doorstep” of a transforming entity, EU membership is very significant and important for Serbia. Every EU enlargement has had a comprehensive and positive impact on less developed countries and prompted said countries’ modernisation. The Ambassador presented the EU today from Serbia’s point of view as membership candidate, as well as the bilateral relations with the EU with a special focus on the European Commission’s upcoming progress report on Serbia expected on 16 April and the European Council’s decision on the start date for EU talks, expected on 28 June. In addition to this, he also pointed out several important issues for Serbia at the moment such as preserving the visa liberalization, implementation of IPA programmes in Serbia both as regards the non-refundable funds and the European Investment Bank loans, and participation in EU peace mission.
The Committee members went on to discuss the Bill on Conclusion and Implementation of International Treaties, in detail. The MPs had submitted 25 amendments to the Bill. Considering that the Government’s opinion had not arrived before the beginning of the Committee sitting, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Committee on the proposal the Ministry had sent to the Government so it could vote on each amendment. The Ministry had proposed that the Government accept eight of the MPs’ amendments, while the Committee decided to accept nine of the amendments. The Committee also submitted an amendment of its own to article 20 of the Bill.
The Committee members gave consent to the visits by foreign delegations to the National Assembly, noted the activities of the standing delegations in the upcoming period and accepted reports on visits and contacts realised.
The Committee members accepted the initiative to constitute parliamentary friendship groups with the Denmark, the Gulf States and Latvia and amended and modified the membership of the already formed parliamentary friendship groups.
The sitting was chaired by Milos Aligrudic, Committee Chairman.
Committees related to this activity
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11.00 - sitting of the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 2)
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11.00 - sitting of the of the Committee on Education, Science, Technological Development and the Information Society (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 4)
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11.00 - judges elected to judicial office for the first time take the oath of office before the National Assembly Speaker (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Small Hall)
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11.30 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Ukrainian Ambassador (National Assembly Building, 14 Kralja Milana Street)
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12.00 - opening of the exhibition marking 150 years since the birth of Mileva Maric Einstein (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Central Hall)
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12.00 - sitting of the Committee on the Judiciary, Public Administration and Local Self-Government (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 3)
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13.00 - sitting of the Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Committee (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 3)
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17.00 - sitting of the Committee on Constitutional and Legislative Issues (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 4)
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17.05 - National Assembly Deputy Speaker at the AEPA Association if Lawyers Conference: NO MORE SILENCE – ME AGAIN (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Small Hall)