The address of National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic

Mr. Deputy Prime Minister,

Fellow members of parliament,

Dear friends,

Thank you for gathering in such large numbers today at the National Assembly House for the Public Hearing on the Public Property Bill organised by the Assembly Committees on finance and European integration to once again - before the MPs do so in the plenary hall - together analyse the solutions proposed by the Bill which will for the first time regulate the institute of private property.

Each law and each act passed by the National Assembly, as the supreme representative and legislative body, regulates public life and it is the NARS’ duty to bear in mind the improvement of the entire constitutional and legal system when regulating specific social relations, above all mindful of its citizens’ interests.

The Bill that we shall soon debate and hear the views of the expert public on, as well as the Bill on Property Restitution and Compensation, shall take us a step closer to the European Union. The solutions offered by the Public Property Bill comply with the European Charter of Local Self-Government ratified by the Republic of Serbia.

Public property as a new type of property introduced by the Constitution into our legal system, as envisaged by the Bill, belongs to the state, autonomous province and local self-government unit.

The fact the regulation of the field of public property transfers some of the property belonging to the Republic of Serbia onto the level of autonomous province and local self-government unit is especially important. Considering that erstwhile in the legal system these subjects did not have property rights, I very optimistically expect that the property transfer would contribute to and aid their development.

The future bearers of property rights do not merely gain the right to manage said property, but also the great responsibility and obligation to manage the property to the best of their abilities and in line with positive regulations.

This public hearing allows us to contribute to a more comprehensive debate we shall lead at the plenary sitting by listening to expert opinions and competent suggestion.

Our job is not done by merely passing a law. The implementation of the law, its application primarily through the adoption of by-laws and reallocation of budgetary funds will require a significant amount time and activity by all subjects the law refers to.

I am sure that we shall soon meet again at a public hearing on the implementation of the law and then note that, thanks to your comments and suggestions dear colleagues, we have regulated the application of the property rights, completed an acceptable transfer of state-owned property and ensured an efficient functioning of the municipality, town, province and state – and that the work of the Government and MPs, as well as all of us, resulted in the realisation of that which is the interest of our citizens – I suggest that we open the public hearing and wish us all successful work.