The National Assembly delegation comprised Dr Vladimir Orlic, co-chair of the European Union-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, Gordana Comic, National Assembly Deputy Speaker and member of the European Integration Committee, and Vesna Markovic, member of the European Integration Committee.

On the behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the participants of the roundtable were addressed by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic and the Acting Director of the EU Integrations Office, Ksenija Milenkovic.

In the course of the panel discussion, the participants spoke of Serbia’s progress in the EU talks, the opening of the negotiation chapters, regional cooperation and implementation of the agreements reached in the dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. The most important message of the discussion in Brussels was one of support from the European Parliament for Serbia’s efforts in the EU negotiations process and dialogue with Pristina, and encouragement to continue with the same pace in the reforms and fulfilling of membership obligations. Everybody agreed that the first negotiation chapters – 23, 24 and 35, could be opened by the end of the year.

The roundtable officially marked the launch of the informal group “Friends of Serbia”, comprising MEPs from different political groups. The informal group, set up at the European Parliament in 2010, aims to establish close cooperation and friendly relations between EU and Serbia, promote the development of democracy, political dialogue, economic, cultural and overall social relations. “Friends of Serbia” plan to meet every three months, and also on an ad hoc basis.

The National Assembly delegation also had separate meetings with Emilian Pavel and Franc Bogovic, chair and vice chair of the informal group “Friends of Serbia”, Eduard Kukan, EP co-chair of the European Union-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, and David McAllister, EP Rapporteur on Serbia.

The panel discussion was followed by the opening of photo exhibition “Colours of Serbia” by Dragoljub Zamurovic, organised with the support of the Serbian Mission in Brussels.