PFG Head Dr Aleksandra Tomic said that, even though Italy and Serbia enjoy traditionally friendly relations, there is sincere readiness to expand them at the parliamentary and all other levels. She was pleased to report that the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Italy, boasting 78 members, is one of the largest in the Serbian parliament, and was also happy to hear that the Italian Chamber of Deputies had set up a 40-member friendship group with Serbia, and the Senate is set to establish one as well.

The PFG members agreed that the two countries’ relations are at a very high level, but stressed that additional efforts should be invested into cultural and university cooperation, as well as the development of tourism.

The Italian Ambassador thanked the PFG for the invitation, saying how pleased he was that Serbian parliamentarians are interested in cultural, scientific, economic and security cooperation with Italy. Summing up the bilateral relations, Ambassador Manzo highlighted the aspect of economic cooperation evidenced in this year’s 4 billion EUR trade exchange and the fact that about 600 Italian companies, employing 25,000 people, are currently operating in Serbia.

Speaking of regional cooperation, Manzo stressed that Italy supports EU candidate countries announcing the March 2017 Western Balkan Summit in Rome, aimed at deepening the relations between the countries in the region. He said that the European process is a process of civilizational development, which is greatly important for both Serbia and the entire region.

The PFG Head thanked Italy for its unequivocal support of Serbia’s path to the European Union hoping that Italy would continue to push to open Chapter 26 at the beginning of next year. Finally, Tomic said she was sure Italy would, in addition to its support of the Euro-integration process, continue to be a true partner to Serbia and its National Assembly.