The First Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009, convened at the request of the Government by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, commenced on Monday, 12 January 2009, at 12 p.m.

The Request to hold the session set the following agenda:

1. The Bill amending the Customs Tariff Law,

2. The Bill amending and modifying the Property Tax Law,

3. The Bill amending and modifying the Excise Tax Law,

4. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on Republic Administrative Fees,

5. The Bill on temporary tax exemption from Personal Income Tax to specific types of income,

6. the Bill amending and modifying the Mandatory Social Insurance Contributions Law,

7. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the National Assembly Speaker wished a successful 2009 to the deputies on the behalf of the Deputy Speaker, the Secretary and on her own behalf.

The National Assembly accepted the proposal to conduct a joint discussion in principle on the bills.

Before moving on to discuss the items on the agenda, the deputies pointed out violations of the Rules of Procedure and debated issues not on the agenda, talking about the map of Vojvodina printed by the Social Democratic League of Vojvodina and the energy situation in the country.

Presenting the bills, the Minister for the National Investment Plan Verica Kalanovic stressed that the amendments to the Customs Tariff Law alter the time of its coming into force, so that instead of on 1 January it is to come into force on the eight day following its publication in the “Official Gazette”. She stated that the amendments and modifications to the Excise Tax Law envisage an increase of the excise on fuel from 40 to 42 dinars per liter, as well as a rise of the excise on cigarettes and cigarillos to 14.5 dinars per item. The increase of the excise on coffee was rescinded.

The amendments and modifications to the Law on Republic Administrative Fees will revoke the 1000 dinar passport issuance fee, and the amendments and modifications to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance determine the basis for the payment of pensions for 2008 and 2009, Minister Kalanovic said.

By the end of the day the deputies had completed the joint discussion in principle on the bills.

On the second day of work, 14 January, the National Assembly completed a discussion in detail on the Bill amending the Customs Tariff Law.

The National Assembly went on to commence a discussion in detail on the Bill amending and modifying the Property Tax Law.

For the rest of the day, the deputies conducted the discussion in detail on the second item on the agenda and pointed out violations of the Rules of Procedure.

On the third day of work, 15 January, in the morning part of the session, the deputies completed the discussion on the amendments submitted to Bill amending and modifying the Property Tax Law.

The National Assembly went on to commence a discussion in detail on the Bill amending and modifying the Excise Tax Law.

In addition to the debate on the items on the agenda, the deputies also pointed out violations of the Rules of Procedure.

On the fourth day of work, 16 January, the National Assembly considered the rest of the amendments and concluded the discussion in detail on the Bill amending and modifying the Excise Tax Law.

The deputies went on to commence a discussion in detail on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Republic Administrative Fees and conducted a discussion on the submitted amendments for the rest of the day.

On the fifth day of work, 19 January, the National Assembly continued the discussion in detail on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Republic Administrative Fees.

Before moving on to debate the amendments, the deputies of the Bosniak parties discussed the incidents that occurred in Novi Pazar on 16 January.

During the sitting, the deputies continued to point out violations of the Rules of Procedure, and debated items not on the agenda. The opposition deputies stated that the Government should conduct a different budgetary policy, and design a packet of measures to alleviate the negative impact of the world economic crisis.

By the end of the day, the National Assembly had completed the discussion in detail on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Republic Administrative Fees.

On the sixth day of work, 21 January, the National Assembly completed the discussion in detail on the Bill on temporary tax exemption from Personal Income Tax to specific types of income, the Bill amending and modifying the Mandatory Social Insurance Contributions Law and the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance.

Having completed the discussion on all the items on the agenda of the First Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009, the Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, set Wednesday, 21 January, as Voting Day, beginning at 5,30 p.m.

Voting Day

On Voting Day, the National Assembly voted on the seven items on the agenda of the First Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009.

By a majority of votes, the National Assembly adopted the Bill amending the Customs Tariff Law, the Bill amending and modifying the Property Tax Law, the Bill amending and modifying the Excise Tax Law, the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Republic Administrative Fees, the Bill on temporary tax exemption from Personal Income Tax to specific types of income, the Bill amending and modifying the Mandatory Social Insurance Contributions Law and the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance in their entirety.

Since the National Assembly had completed the discussion on all the items on the agenda and ruled on them, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, concluded the First Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2009.