The eighth Conference of Parliament Speakers of South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) member states is being held today, 7 June 2010, in Antalya (Turkey) in the organisation of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, SEECP Chair.

The Conference is attended by parliament speakers, deputy speakers and deputies of South-East European Cooperation Process member states, and the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is represented by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic and European Integrations Committee Deputy Chairperson Donka Banovic.

The participants advocated further development of parliamentary cooperation among South-East European Cooperation Process member states aimed at achieving common goals and principles set out in the Charter on good-neighbourly relations, stability, security and cooperation in South-Eastern Europe, as well as the conclusions of previous parliamentary speakers conferences. They stated that the region is aware of the need for decisive engagement and joint efforts in order to develop good-neighbourly relations and cooperation which would contribute to stability, prosperity and development of the countries in the region in the context of a common European perspective. The Conference emphasised that strengthening economic, cultural, educational, technological, scientific and research relations among the countries in the region is of vital importance for the citizens living on the territory, as well as the need to strengthen relations with the European Union and EU member states and mutual assistance on their common road. The participants of the conference thanked the European Parliament, European Commission and EU member states for their support and encouragement of regional cooperation in South-East Europe. They also expressed expectation that such a constructive approach would continue and result in a rapid EU membership for those SEECP member states who are not members yet. The SEE parliament speakers and deputy speakers applauded the expansion of the liberal EU visa regime to encompass the Western Balkans in December 2009 and expressed expectation that this year it would expand to include the rest of the region.

At the Conference, the participants agreed to create a Task Group so as to propose modalities for further development of the SEECP parliamentary dimension which would result in the establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly and SEECP promoting common stands and positions in wider international alliances and organisations.

The parliament speakers and deputy speakers believe that the Final Declaration will contribute to the further strengthening of cooperation among SEECP countries and again highlighted that the South-Eastern Europe’s European perspective countries give an additional impulse to the economic development and progress of each individual country as well as the whole region.