The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic met with the Delegation for Relations with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo, headed by Eduard Kukan. The meeting was attended by European Parliament Members Doris Pack, Jelko Kacin, Victor Bostinaru, Ulrike Lunacek and Jutta Steinruck.

The Speaker applauded the adoption of the Resolution on Serbia’s European Integration and ratification of the SAA with Serbia, expressing hope that the remaining 16 countries would soon ratify the SAA as well. In the meeting with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Security Subcommittee, Arnaud Danjean, the Speaker was assured that the French Senate would do so very soon.

Kacin asked about the abolition of blank resignations in Serbia which he opined would be very important for Serbia’s image as it is contrary to the basic tenets of democracy. The Speaker announced that the issue of blank resignations would be resolved in the February or March session. “In most democratic societies, blank resignations are a thing of the past. With the help of our legal experts, we are seeking solutions to the issue. I can assure you that, if not in February, than during the March session, the deputy would be the owner of his/her term of office. The time is ripe for it,” said Djukic-Dejanovic answering the question of Jelko Kacin, parliamentary rapporteur for Serbia.

To the question of rapporteur for Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek: “when will the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina commence”, the Assembly Speaker said that the Serbian authorities are entirely ready for it and believe that the dialogue “should focus on all the important issues”. “The less painful ones should be addressed first so as to open the dialogue, and the more difficult ones should come later. The experts and people living there should be given advantage at present”, she said.

She added that Belgrade is aware that without full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal “Serbia’s European progress is blocked”. “I know that cooperation with The Hague Tribunal should be better and give results”, she said emphasising that Serbia ”is doing all in its power to meet the ‘full cooperation’ formulation”.

Speaking about the judiciary reform, also listed as one of the problems in the European Parliament’s Resolution, Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic said that Belgrade will act in accordance with the recommendations of the Venetian Commission and that the problems have been identified.

Answering the question about the improvement of gender equality in Serbia, Djukic-Dejanovic said that the Assembly has adopted a Gender Equality Law, but that the fact remains that women are still not adequately represented on all levels.

“The implementation of the law and by-laws is yet to come”, she said. The Serbian Assembly Speaker told the European parliamentarians that joining the EU is Serbia’s “highest priority”, adding that a high percentage of the people are in favour of European integration.