The working group was headed by Eduard Kukan, Committee Chair, and the meeting was attended by Ivan Andric, Chairman of the newly established Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee and Aleksandra Tomic, Committee Vice Chairperson. The National Assembly Speaker was pleased at the visit of the members of the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee and the first constituting meeting with the National Assembly’s Committee. He was especially pleased by the European Commission’s positive progress report on Serbia which states that Serbia has reached an adequate level of rapprochement with European Union membership criteria. Speaker Stefanovic said that the fact the Report gives a positive evaluation of the National Assembly’s work is especially significant, adding that there is still room for improvement especially when it comes to the Parliament’s oversight role over the executive and the role the Parliament should play in the talks with the European Union. Stefanovic said he expected the talks with the European Union to start on 20 December, adding that he was pleased by the successful explanatory “screening” for chapters 23 and 24 of the talks. He focused on the fact that the Stabilisation and Association Committee was chaired by Ivan Andric, opposition MP from LDP, and that the European Integration Committee is chaired by Natasa Vuckovic, opposition MP from DS, opining that the Parliament has thus demonstrated its maturity.
Among the priorities, Stefanovic listed the reform processes relating to the rule of law, judiciary and all areas which have previously performed poorly, especially as regards the fight against crime and corruption which has already given certain results. The Speaker stressed that these issues are not priorities simply because of Serbia’s accession to the European Union, but also because they benefit the citizens, adding that Serbia does not expect instant solutions from the European Union accession. Stefanovic concluded that the Parliament wishes to strengthen its role and reputation with the public, as well as its transparency and take part in the talks.
The Chair of the EP Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, Eduard Kukan said he was pleased by Serbia’s progress on the road to Europe, adding that the EP has noticed improvements in the Parliament’s transparency listing as proof the Internet broadcast of plenary and committee sessions and meetings, and the fact that the Assembly budget is published on the website, and concluded that the National Assembly is the most transparent institution. Kukan declared the Parliament’s role in the negotiation process important, adding he expected the start date to be an early one and that the Report on Serbia at the European Parliament was very positive and he fully supported the beginning of talks.
The Chair of the EP Committee said he was glad to be working with his Serbian colleagues and added that this is an important moment both for Serbia and the European Parliament. He stressed that we are nearing the end of the year when all the planned activities should be completed in view of the May 2014 European Parliament elections and that the planned activities should be completed by March, when the election campaign begins.
The European parliament delegation was particularly interested in the organisation of a conference on minority, and especially LGBT, rights, and the upcoming repeat elections in Kosovo-Metohija. Jelko Kacin, European Parliament rapporteur on Serbia, said that the European Parliament should, on 6 December, vote on the Report and added that the pre-election campaign favoured the list representing the Serbian Government’s option.
The National Assembly Speaker confirmed that the possibility of organising a conference on minority rights, and especially LGBT rights among them, has been discussed, but we did not want the approach to be formal and unproductive, and opined that, in order for it to be successful, such a conference should take place at an appropriate moment, adding he hoped that everyone would see the need to protect human rights.
Responding to questions relating to the elections in Kosovo-Metohija, the National Assembly Speaker stressed that Serbia considers Kosovo-Metohija part of its territory and acts accordingly as regards the election campaign, explaining that the parties of the ruling coalition have jointly entered the election. Stefanovic said that Serbia has done a lot to normalise the situation in Kosovo-Metohija and, after the elections, a Community of Serbian Municipalities would be set up which will, he opined, contribute to the overall stabilisation in Kosovo-Metohija.