In the previous months, ninety high-school and university students from all over Serbia went through a four-month programme of workshops and participated in six public debates in Leskovac, Zrenjanin, Sabac, Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac. Thanks to the debating skills demonstrated, seven of the best speakers were chosen and presented their skills in the final debate today in the National Assembly House. The topic of the debate was whether the time spent on social networks should be limited for people under the age of 16.

"It is an extremely great honour and pleasure for me to welcome you all to the supreme legislative institution, on behalf of the National Assembly Speaker and on my own behalf, as the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, as well as the Chairperson of the European Integration Committee. I am very pleased that after a short break, the final of the European School Debate returned to this wonderful hall and I want everyone to enjoy the skills of the best," said Kovacs. The National Assembly Deputy Speaker thanked the organisers of the meeting, the EU Information Network, the academic debating network Open Communication and the European Union Delegation to Serbia, who supported this project.

Kovacs said that she too participated in debates during her schooling, adding that she is glad that young people are also learning about European integration in this way, getting to know the European Union and preparing to be future decision-makers in the Republic of Serbia. She added that this type of debate is extremely important for learning argumentation, reading body language, and that regardless of the opinions of political actors, which are disparate in the current National Assembly legislature, even in relation to whether the Republic of Serbia has a place in EU, Serbia's strategic foreign policy goal is to join the European Union. She explained that the National Assembly is a place that reflects the different views of our people, even on the issue of the European Union, with completely opposite views, but that we all have to learn to communicate better.

She underlined that since the conflict in Ukraine, thinking has changed in the EU itself, where a momentum has been reached that requires expansion and that the Western Balkans should not be left out, and that it is up to the Republic of Serbia to take advantage of that momentum. "I think young people are an extremely important partner for this issue, so I am happy to spend time with you and hear your opinions. I wish you much success in your work", concluded Kovacs.

The debate was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia Emanuele Giaufret and the Minister of European Integration Prof. Dr Tanja Miscevic.