The NARS Speaker expressed his pleasure at the meeting, informing the Ambassador of the Parliament's priorities and upcoming activities, the Parliament's further outreach to the public and stressing the importance of economic development and further Euro-integration process. He showed interest in furthering interparliamentary cooperation.

The Swedish Ambassador stated that his country truly appreciates the effort put into simplifying the procedure and realisation of Swedish investments in Serbia. Ambassador Asp informed Speaker Stefanovic on the continued investments by Ikea, which plans to open a regional centre in Serbia, with a potential for opening a manufacturing plant. As regards Kosovo-Metohija, he declared the activities of the new Government as a clear commitment to dialogue, adding that Sweden advocates including political issues in the negotiations so as to reach a sustainable solution. He also deemed that further progress in the Euro-integration process would lead to an easier resolution of the Kosovo-Metohija issue. In that context, he said that the Swedish side within the EU advocates setting the date to commence negotiations as soon as possible.

Speaker Stefanovic expressed gratitude for the support of Euro-integration, saying that acknowledging Serbia’s progress would encourage the further dynamics of the process. Stefanovic said that Serbia expects the international community to advocate the protection of the human rights of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija.

The Swedish Ambassador said that there is a consensus within the European Union that unilateral moves reverse the results reached and impede further progress of the dialogue, though Pristina had been sent a clear signal about it following the events in July 2011. He also added that human rights should be guaranteed unconditionally, deeming that EU mediation in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina should not follow the model of ready-made solutions. In that context, he said that the EU agrees not to allow the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina to be used as an instrument to block the Euro-integration process, highlighting the Serbian side’s constructivism and noting that official Berlin has approved of this position.

Ambassador Asp drew attention to the issue of asylum-seekers with Serbian citizenship in Sweden, saying that, although, initially, the problem was addressed successfully, there has been some stagnation in the last year, and asked for further efforts, suggesting the implementation of the Schengen model in the legislation of the Republic of Serbia.