Speaking of migration policy creation in Europe, Gojkovic said that in the search for a model European policy to respond to future challenges, Serbia is ready to take active part in the debate about a possible solution and in the implementation of agreed upon measures.

Gojkovic stressed that since the onset of the refugee and migrant wave, Serbia insisted on a common response and solidarity, and had in the meantime done in its power to take care of the migrants and provide them with adequate living conditions and basic human rights, necessary care, medical attention and education possibilities during their stay in Serbia.

Gojkovic reminded the attending that so far approximately a million refugees and migrants have gone through Serbia as the key transit country of the Western Balkan route.

The Parliament Speaker went on to say that at the same time Serbia responded responsibly and decisively to illegal migration, with a special focus on human smuggling and trafficking, protecting its own and its neighbours’ territory, as well as certain EU member states which are the final destination for migrants.

“To be efficient, the solution must be accepted by all the stakeholders with full responsibility, with a special focus on sources, and sensibility for social, economic and cultural differences. This approach is essential for the protection of democracy, humanity, solidarity and human rights, values that make up the European identity, with full understanding that there are no quick and easy solutions”, said Gojkovic.

In addition to the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia the summit is also attended by the heads of the national parliaments of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, Albania, Macedonia and Malta, as well as the deputy heads of the national parliaments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the attendance of parliamentary delegations from Greece, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Ukraine and Croatia.

Besides migration, the heads of parliament are also discussing strengthening parliamentary cooperation as a development opportunity for the region and within it cooperation relating to infrastructure, energy transformation and security, transport policy and sustainable development and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in contemporary international relations.