National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
26 April 2017 National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic in meeting with Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Gojkovic Meets with Swedish Parliament Speaker
The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojkovic met today with the Speaker of Parliament of the Kingdom of Sweden Urban Ahlin, currently visiting Serbia. On the occasion the heads of parliament stressed the importance of the visit for the development of relations between the two countries in view of the fact that this year marks the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Sweden.
Gojkovic said that Serbia and Sweden enjoy good relations and dialogue at the highest level and the Swedish Parliament Speaker’s visit opens a new chapter of bilateral cooperation at the parliamentary level since it is the first visit by the country’s parliament speaker to Serbia since 2001.
Gojkovic said that Sweden’s support of Serbia’s Euro-integration is of paramount importance, as was again confirmed at today’s meeting, adding that the Swedish Parliament’s experience in that context is of great importance for the National Assembly.
Reminding the attending that Serbia has so far opened eight negotiation chapters, Gojkovic said she expected additional four to be opened during Malta’s presidency.
“The message I also heard today form the Swedish Parliament Speaker, that the doors of the European Union are open to Serbia and the Western Balkans, is truly important for us”, said Gojkovic stressing that Serbia is dedicated to regional cooperation and that the National Assembly plays an important role in it by cooperating with the parliaments in the region.
Reaffirming that Sweden supports Serbia’s path to the EU, Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin said that he believes the Serbian Government should continue to meet the EU accession criteria and at the end of that path, membership will come.
“The Balkans have to be integrated into the European Union, it is an ongoing process that has our support. For me it is not a question if Serbia will become an EU member, but when”, said Ahlin.
Ahlin said that despite the challenges of our times troubling both for the European Union and the international community, the Balkan region should not take a back seat, and that Sweden supports the EU progress of all the Balkan countries.
Speaking of Sweden’s experience and the cooperation is has with its neighbours, Ahlin said that he has one motto – prosperous countries have prosperous neighbours, the richer the neighbour, the better for the country.
The Swedish parliamentary delegation also comprised MPs from the Social Democratic Party Marie Granlund and Ingemar Nilsson, Moderate Party Mats Green and from the Democratic Party of Sweden Linus Bylund. The meeting was also attended by Milorad Mijatovic, Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Kingdom of Sweden.
Gojkovic said that Sweden’s support of Serbia’s Euro-integration is of paramount importance, as was again confirmed at today’s meeting, adding that the Swedish Parliament’s experience in that context is of great importance for the National Assembly.
Reminding the attending that Serbia has so far opened eight negotiation chapters, Gojkovic said she expected additional four to be opened during Malta’s presidency.
“The message I also heard today form the Swedish Parliament Speaker, that the doors of the European Union are open to Serbia and the Western Balkans, is truly important for us”, said Gojkovic stressing that Serbia is dedicated to regional cooperation and that the National Assembly plays an important role in it by cooperating with the parliaments in the region.
Reaffirming that Sweden supports Serbia’s path to the EU, Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin said that he believes the Serbian Government should continue to meet the EU accession criteria and at the end of that path, membership will come.
“The Balkans have to be integrated into the European Union, it is an ongoing process that has our support. For me it is not a question if Serbia will become an EU member, but when”, said Ahlin.
Ahlin said that despite the challenges of our times troubling both for the European Union and the international community, the Balkan region should not take a back seat, and that Sweden supports the EU progress of all the Balkan countries.
Speaking of Sweden’s experience and the cooperation is has with its neighbours, Ahlin said that he has one motto – prosperous countries have prosperous neighbours, the richer the neighbour, the better for the country.
The Swedish parliamentary delegation also comprised MPs from the Social Democratic Party Marie Granlund and Ingemar Nilsson, Moderate Party Mats Green and from the Democratic Party of Sweden Linus Bylund. The meeting was also attended by Milorad Mijatovic, Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Kingdom of Sweden.
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