Committee Chairperson Marija Obradovic and the Chairman of the Czech Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Frantisek Bublan heading the Czech delegation exchanged information on the structure and mode of operation of the two parliaments and their working bodies, as well as the authority and scope of the committees they chair.

The meeting focused on the security policy and challenges in Serbia, its foreign policy and European integration, as well as relations with the countries in the region and the migrant crisis.

Marija Obradovic said that EU accession is Serbia’s foreign policy priority as evidenced by the overwhelming majority of MPs who favour European integration. Two new negotiation chapters are expected to be opened, said Obradovic adding that European integration is important for the standards it introduces into the country helping it function better and advancing the rule of law.

Regional cooperation is also a priority, especially fostering economic ties between the countries in the region, said Marija Obradovic. She stressed that developing a customs union of Western Balkan states would facilitate business dealings, improve economic relations and boost investment. Speaking of the political situation in the countries in the region, the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee Chairperson expressed concern over the rising Albanian political power in Macedonia and on the territory of Kosovo-Metohija, and the lack of adequate response by the international community to these tendencies. She drew attention to the human right infringements against Serb living in Kosovo-Metohija, the problems they have concerning education, health care and limitation of movement.

Speaking of the migrant crisis Marija Obradovic said that almost a million migrants have gone through Serbia so far, which tests the country’s capacities, but still there have been no major problems with the organization and reception of the migrants or reactions by the local population.

The Head of the Czech delegation Frantisek Bublan expressed support for Serbia’s European integration and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, stressing that it is crucial that the regional countries deal with the disputed issues by themselves.

The meeting was also attended by The Czech Ambassador to Serbia Ivana Hlavsova, as well as Defence and Internal Affairs Committee members Dubravka Filipovski, Jasmina Obradovic and Milovan Drecun.