As part of the European Union Council’s Western Balkans Committee (COWEB) delegation’s visit to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on 25 March 2010, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic talked to the guests about the National Assembly’s current and realised activities on meeting the European legislative agenda.

Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Serbia Vincent Degert commended the Parliament’s work in 2009 and gave full support to the continued realisation of legislative activities, as well as the implementation of European laws. The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Serbia H.E. Inigo Palacio de Espana stressed that this was a unique occasion - diplomatic representatives of all 27 European Union member states visiting the Parliament together, and highlighted the importance of the parliament’s role in the Republic of Serbia’s European integration process.

The NARS Speaker pointed out the European Commission’s positive evaluation of the National Assembly’s work and legislative procedure that have been improved by the implementation of the current National Assembly Rules of Procedure passed in 2009. She also informed the guests that the National Assembly’s efficiency is reflected in the volume of laws adopted since in the current convocation the National Assembly has adopted 96% of the Bills forwarded to it by the Government, among them a series of regulations creating the conditions for Serbia’s speedy accession to the European Union. She also emphasised the efforts to strengthen the National Assembly’s capacities in the sphere of oversight over the executive government, particularly through the institute of public hearings and communication with independent state bodies. Parliamentary diplomacy both with neighbouring parliaments and parliaments in the whole region, is a very important segment of Serbia’s diplomatic efforts to speed up the European integration process.

The Delegation Head expressed the European Union’s readiness to provide the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia with all the help necessary to further strengthen its capacities and develop democratic parliamentary practice.