Djerlek said that that after the constitution of the National Assembly, election of the Government and with the local elections being over, the parliamentarians can fully focus on the National Assembly’s work. He said it is vital to continue the dialogue between the ruling majority and the opposition launched by National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic at the very beginning of her mandate so as to cool the social tensions. He added that the parliamentarians will work intensively toward boosting the transparency of the National Assembly and strengthening parliamentary diplomacy.

Deputy Speaker Djerlek went on to say that this year Serbia and Italy mark the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Strategic Partnership Declaration, as well as 145 years of diplomatic relations, adding that our bilateral relations rest on the four pillars of political dialogue, regional stability, economic cooperation and Serbia’s European integration.

Edin Djerlek thanked Italy for its continuous support of Serbia’s European path, stating that EU membership if our country’s foreign policy priority. Though Italy continues to support the opening of new negotiation clusters, none have been opened in the last two and a half years, said Edin Djerlek noting that this absence of positive signals from the EU goes on to strengthen Euroscepticism in the Serbian citizens.

He expressed his belief that, after the elections for European Parliament, the EU will strengthen its enlargement policy, pointing out that the European integration of the Western Balkans is essential for the stability and strengthening of the international importance of the Union itself in the current geopolitical circumstances.

Italian Ambassador Luca Gori agreed that our two countries enjoy high-level bilateral relations, which is a trend that should be followed. Speaking of the importance of Serbia’s European integration he said that Italy will continue to support the opening of new negotiation clusters, adding that the Growth Plan is something new and concrete in the EU’s enlargement policy.

Gori praised all the efforts invested in the establishment of dialogue between the ruling majority and the opposition, underlining the importance of establishing a constructive atmosphere in the Parliament and society.

The officials agreed that the economic relations are exceptionally well-developed, as evidenced by the Serbia-Italy Business Forum in Belgrade and Milan which resulted in concrete economic agreements between the two countries. Djerlek said that Italy is one of the biggest investors in Serbia and that Italian companies provide employment for 50,000 citizens in Serbia, stressing that Italian companies should spread to different regions of Serbia so as to achieve balanced regional development.

Serbia has a big job ahead of it. She said she expected Serbia to have a longer period of continuity, without electoral processes, which will enable the country to continue with the reforms and the process of European integration.

Edin Djerlek opined that there is room to intensify cooperation between Serbia and Italy in the fields of education, science and culture and invited Italy to provide support for the infrastructural work done for EXPO 2027, since Milan had successfully hosted EXPO 2015.