3 December 2018 National Assembly Deputy Speaker Veroljub Arsic in meeting with the members of the German Bundestag

3 December 2018 National Assembly Deputy Speaker Veroljub Arsic in meeting with the members of the German Bundestag

Monday, 3 December 2018

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Veroljub Arsic Talks to German Bundestag Delegation

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Veroljub Arsic met today with Renata Alt and Josip Juratovic, members of the German Bundestag, to discuss the European integration process, current situation in Kosovo-Metohija, parliamentary diplomacy and the overall bilateral cooperation between Serbia and Germany.


Deputy Speaker Arsic opined that the relations between the two countries are very good in view of the fact that the overall cooperation had been intensified in recent years as evidenced by the top level talks between Serbia and Germany such as the visit of the President of the Bundestag which sent an important message, especially concerning the European integration process. He stressed that Serbia is grateful for Germany’s invaluable the support in the European integration process.

Josip Juratovic, member of the Bundestag and Head of the Group for Cooperation with SEE countries, said that these are turbulent times for the region, Europe and the world. In that context, he highlighted the importance of parliamentary cooperation in view of the fact that in democratic societies the parliamentarians are the direct elected representatives of the people.

Deputy Speaker Arsic said that the National Assembly is dedicated to parliamentary diplomacy, mentioning as a good example the interparliamentary cooperation based on the work of commissions as in the case of the National Assembly’s cooperation with the parliaments of the Russian Federation, PR China and Greece. He went on to say that the Inter-Parliamentary Union had declared the National Assembly one of the most open parliaments in the world.

Speaking of the European integration process, Arsic emphasized the importance of the National Assembly’s cooperation with the National Convention on the EU, the association gathering representatives of civil society who take active part in Serbia’s EU accession process. Arsic opined that in this process Serbia has only one problem – Chapter 35 – the unresolved issues with the provisional institutions of self-government in Kosovo-Metohija, which Serbia has been trying to resolve for years. He reminded the guests of the Brussels Agreement and the fact that though Serbia has met all of its obligations, Pristina is still to meet any.

“I appeal to the leading EU member states, especially Germany, to send a clear message to Pristina to rescind the uncivilized taxes and continue the talks”, said Arsic asking what kind of message that sends to the EU and the world to, in the 21st century, impose measures which make the lives of a whole population in Kosovo-Metohija worse.

“That is not a matter of agreement and obligations, it is the reflection of destructive politics that calls the security of the entire region into question”, opined Arsic.

Josip Juratovic said that the customs taxes Pristina had imposed violate CEFTA and the only ones to profit from them are tycoons at the detriment of the people. He said that the situation is more than problematic and urged for the building of trust in the region.

The officials also spoke about young people leaving Serbia, effects of the introduction of dual education, and Serbia’s progress in chapters 23 and 24.



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thursday, 28 march
  • 9.00 - consultations of representatives of the parliamentary groups about the election of deputy chairpersons of the National Assembly working bodies (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 1)

  • 10.00 - visit of the students of Stevan Dukic Elementary School to the National Assembly House (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square)

  • 11.00 - visit of the students of Drinka Pavlovic Elementary School Student Parliament to the National Assembly House (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square)

  • 11.00 - press conference of the Green-Left Front – Don’t Let Belgrade D(r)оwn Parliamentary Group (National Assembly House 13, Nikola Pasic Square. Central Hall)

  • 13.00 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Speaker’s Cabinet)

Full event calendar