At the sitting held on 4 December, the Foreign Affairs Committee continued the discussion in principle on the Foreign Affairs Bill. The sitting was chaired by Dr Dragoljub Micunovic.

In his new address to the Committee members, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Jeremic, pointed out that the submitted bill is modern and concise, aligned with the Constitution and the laws on the ministries, state administration and employees of the state, as well as confirmed international agreements in the field of diplomatic and consular relations.

During the discussion, the Committee members voiced numerous comments and suggestions towards the improvement of the text of the bill stressing that it is one of the most important documents regulating the actions of state organs in the field of foreign policy and international relations and creating the conditions for the development and strengthening of a modern diplomatic service in Serbia. In connection with it, they pointed out that this bill must define more clearly the relations between the President of the Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly in establishing a unified foreign policy. The Committee members believe that the bill does not cover the mechanism ensuring the National Assembly and its authorised committees’ participation in determining foreign policy, or informing them of the most important issues of foreign policy in due time.

In addition, during the discussion an opinion was voiced that a larger participation of members of national minorities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state organs should be ensured.

After the discussion was completed, the Committee members accepted the Bill in principle, while the submitted amendments will be considered at the next sitting.