The officials agreed that they were ready to intensify communication and cooperation during Serbia’s chairmanship of the OSCE.

The Head of the standing delegation, Dr Dijana Vukomanovic said that Serbia’s chairmanship of the OSCE is a big challenge for the MPs, but at the same time also a big opportunity for Serbia’s international affirmation. “Chairing the OSCE will let us be more than political observers, we will be able to give a human dimension to the preservation of peace, stability and human rights in the OSCE region”, stressed Vukomanovic.

As the representative of the ruling collation, Zoran Babic informed Link on the activities and results the National Assembly and Government of the Republic of Serbia have achieved by passing systemic and reform laws. The Head of the Serbian Progressive Part Parliamentary Group explained that the budget rebalance is crucial for Serbia’s economic recovery, with a special focus on protecting the most vulnerable social strata. Speaking of the OSCE chairmanship, Babic expressed his firm belief that it gives Serbia the chance to show that it can handle any challenge and become a member of the European Union.

Link said he was sure that the project of building up the European Union cannot be finalised without Serbia’s membership. Explaining the ODIHR’s role, Link stressed that the Office does not aim to merely observe electoral processes, but rather the entire political situation, adding that Serbia can count on ODIHR analytic and expert support in its electoral processes. In that context Link said he was willing to present to the MPs the recommendations contained in the ODIHR reports on the 2012 and 2014 parliamentary elections in Serbia since the reports list specific procedural and legal recommendations which should be taken into consideration in future elections. Link clarified that recommendations such as these are sent to all OSCE member states, among them Germany which implemented certain legislative amendments based on the ODIHR reports.

Serbia’s progress in female empowerment in the parliament and politics was also among the topics of the meeting, as was the importance of the upcoming elections for national minority council members which demonstrate Serbia’s efforts on preserving and improving national minority rights and freedoms.