Meho Omerovic, Chairman of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality, informed the delegation of the Czech Parliamentary Committee on Petitions about the Committee’s scope of activity, adding that the recently opened EU negotiation chapters 23 and 24 are closely connected to the Committee’s work. Omerovic stressed that the most endangered and vulnerable population groups – the Roma national minority, persons with disabilities, LGBT population and the elderly, especially women in rural areas, are a focus of particular attention. He said that the Committee had, in the last year, focused on the problem of violence against women and domestic violence and announced that an amendment to the Criminal Code was expected in the coming months, as well as a new Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. The Chairman added that the Committee often meets outside of the National assembly seat in towns and municipalities across the Republic of Serbia.

The members of the two committees spoke about the migrant crisis and the challenges their respective countries face concerning this most urgent of issues in Europe.

Meho Omerovic said that more than 700,000 migrants had passed through the Republic of Serbia as a transit country in the last year and a half, and is still home for about 7000 migrants. He emphasised the Serbia citizens’ humane treatment of the migrants and the measures the state institutions employ to secure the migrants’ most basic rights, first and foremost housing. However, he said this requires considerable funds so the EU’s assistance should be higher. He also stressed that most of the migrants in Serbia today do not come from war-torn countries, rather they are economic migrants, mainly from Afghanistan.

The delegation of the Czech Parliamentary Committee on Petitions asked whether the Republic of Serbia would close its borders in case of a migrant crisis to which Meho Omerovic said that Serbia does not plan to block its borders, but if national security is threatened the authorities will consider what measures they should employ to protect national interests.

Zuzka Bebarova Rujbrova, Chairperson of the Czech Parliament’s Committee on Petitions, said that despite being an EU member state, the Czech Republic suffers under the migrant crisis and though its asylum laws are strict, they are in line with European standards, however, she added that the European Union needs to take a uniform stance on migrations. The delegation said that it is helping the Republic of Macedonia on the borders and is aware of the plans to help Serbia. Both delegations agreed that the solution to the problem must be sought at the source i.e. in ending the conflicts in Syria.

The Committees concluded that they deal with practically the same issues of human and minority rights and freedoms and act in a similar manner in cooperation with independent state bodies and the civil sector, because exchanging experiences is important for the work of both committees.

The delegation of the Czech Parliamentary Committee on Petitions comprised Zuzka Bebarova Rujbrova,

Miroslava Strnadlova, Jiri Junek, Zuzana Sanova and Vera Bizova, and the meeting was also attended by the Czech Ambassador to Serbia Ivana Hlavsova and counsellor Pavel Koblizka.

On the behalf of the National Assembly Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality, besides the Chairman, the meeting was attended by Committee members Ljiljana Malusic, Milanka Jevtovic Vukojicic, Olena Papuga, Ljibuska Lakatos, Milisav Milojevic, Olivera Ognjanovic, Tatjana Macura and Marija Janjusevic.