Today at the National Assembly House, European Integrations Committee Chairman Laszlo Varga and Committee members Jelena Trivan and Mladen Grujic received a delegation of the French Senate Foreign Relations and Defense Committee comprising senators Rene Beaumont, from the Saône-et-Loire region, and Bernard Piras from the Drom region.

The meeting focused on Serbia’s accession to the European Union and the upcoming steps towards that goal.

Committee Chairman Varga said that the Committee is currently busy with filling out the European Commission Questionnaire sent in order to prepare an Opinion on Serbia’s bid for EU membership. Out of the 2483 questions, about 20 relate to the National Assembly, and the Assembly would forward the answers to the Government by the middle of next week. He said that the Government would send the completed Questionnaire to the European Commission by the beginning of February 2011.

Laszlo Varga said that one of the most difficult questions about the National Assembly is the issue of deputy mandate ownership, adding that the European Commission has already notified Serbia that the existing regulation did not comply with European standards. That was why that part of the electoral system would have to be amended as soon as next year, which would not be easy, Varga concluded.

In view of the long tradition of excellent relations between the two countries, France will take a positive stand on Serbia’s EU candidacy, Senator Beaumont stressed. He pointed out that under the French electoral legislation the term of office belongs to the deputies first, and then to the party they belong to.

On the matter, Committee member Jelena Trivan emphasised that Serbia has the majority to ensure such an amendment to the electoral legislation, after which the political parties would choose their deputies responsibly.

Mladen Grujic pointed out that Serbia was interested in harmonising its national regulations with EU legislation, stressing that it would necessitate well-educated civil servants. That makes the French Senate’s announced assistance very welcome, said Grujic.