On the third day of work, 28 October, the National Assembly continued the joint discussion in principle on the Bill on Data Confidentiality and Bill amending and modifying the Law on Free Accessto Information of Public Importance.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the National Assembly concluded the joint discussion in principle on the Bills.

The National Assembly went on to commence a joint discussion in principle on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Civil Servant,Bill determining the maximum number of employees in republic administration and Bill determining the maximum number of employees in local administration

The Chair, Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, called a recess since no Government representative appeared at the sitting.

The National Assembly Speaker shall notify the deputies about the continuation of the session in due time.

On the fourth day of work, 2 November, the National Assembly continued the joint discussion in principle on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Civil Servants,Bill determining the maximum number of employees in republic administration and Bill determining the maximum number of employees in local administration.

The Bill amending and modifying the Law on Civil Servants was elaborated by the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Milan Markovic, who stressed that after three years of implementation the new civil service system in the Republic of Serbia still lacks affirmation. Markovic stated that the most important spheres where changes have been proposed are evaluating the work of civil servants, promotion, disciplinary responsibility of civil servants, manner of employment and conditions for advancement. All of these should contribute to the functionality of public administration, thus improving the quality of its work.

The Minister of Economy and Regional Development, Mladjan Dinkic elaborated the Bills determining the maximum number of employees in republic administration and local administration on the behalf of the submitters. He stressed that the law on republic administration aims to improve its efficiency thus reducing expenditure which should be noticeable next year, and in even more in 2011. He pointed out that the goal is to decrease administrative affairs by 25% and abolish costly procedures paid for by the economy and citizens.

Speaking about the law on local administration, Dinkic stated that the average number of employees in local administration is higher than the European. He specified that the Bill stipulates that the number of employees cannot be higher than four employees per thousand citizens. The law would allow the local self-government to decide whether it would decrease the number of surfeit employees or finance them itself.

In the morning, the deputies conducted a joint discussion in principle on these Bills. Opposition deputies criticised the proposed solutions requesting that they be retracted from procedure, as well as explanations regarding the criteria for establishing the number of employees. They also announced that they would submit a large number of amendments.

After recess, the National Assembly did not continue the discussion since the representatives of the submitters were unable to attend the sitting, so the National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic scheduled a continuation for the following day.

On the fifth day of work, 3 November, the National Assembly completed the joint discussion in principle on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Civil Servants,Bill determining the maximum number of employees in republic administration and Bill determining the maximum number of employees in local administration.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Miroslav Markicevic, Radojko Obradovic, Tomislav Nikolic, Vladan Batic, Dragan Todorovic and Gordana Comic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and the National Assembly Speaker.

In the afternoon, the National Assembly completed a joint discussion in principle on the Bill regulating the relationship between the Republic of Serbia and loan recipient or guarantor for obligations undertaken under International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Loans.

On the sixth day, 4 November, the National Assembly continued the session with ajoint discussion in principle on the Bills on Classification of Activities, on Official Statistics, on 2011 Census on Population, Households and Dwellings and on 2011 Agricultural Census.

Jasna Matic, Minister of Telecommunication and Information Society explained the proposed legal solutions to the deputies.

In her explanation she stressed that changes in the spheres of classification and official statistics, as well as harmonisation with European Union standards, call for the adoption of these Bills. The United Nations principles of official statistics and Code of Practice for European statistics were taken into consideration in the drafting of the Bills. The Bill on 2011 Census on Population, Households and Dwellings shall satisfy the needs of data users from the spheres of population policy, spatial planning, realisation of general and regional urbanism projects and housing and utility services. It shall also regulate the rights and duties of state authorities regarding the preparation and implementation of censuses. By the Bill on 2011 Agricultural Census Serbia joins the World Census of Agriculture Programme which all countries should complete in the period from 2006 to 2015.

In the discussion on the Bills a number of opposition deputies criticised the two Census Bills stating that considerable funds were being allocated for the purpose and that a joint population and agricultural census should be done instead. They also had objections to the content of the part of the census form containing questions about ethnicity and mother tongue.

By the end of the day, the deputies had completed the joint discussion in principle on the Bills on Classification of Activities, on Official Statistics, on 2011 Census on Population, Households and Dwellings and on 2011 Agricultural Census.

On the seventh day of work, 5 November, the National Assembly commenced a joint discussion in principle on the Bill determining public interest in the expropriation of real estate for the construction of magisterial pipeline MG-11, Bill on Pipeline Transportation of Gas and Liquid Hydrocarbons and Distribution of Gas Hydrocarbons, Bill amending and modifying the Mining Law and the Bill on Expiration of the Law on Affiliation into Community of Yugoslav Electro-Economy.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Riza Halimi, Vladan Batic, Miroslav Markicevic, Cedomir Jovanovic, Milan Lapcevic, Bozidar Delic and Dragan Todorovic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and the National Assembly Speaker.

The National Assembly Speaker said that she would forward all the suggestions, questions and proposals to the competent ministries.

In the morning part of the session, the Chairperson informed the National Assembly that part of the sitting was being observed from the gallery of the Great Hall of the National Assembly House, by the pupils and students from Knjazevac, as well as Milos Milosevic who had recently helped deputy Biljana Hasanovic-Korac when she was attacked.

The commencement of the joint discussion in principle on the energy Bills was delayed so that the members of the Legislative Committee could vote on the Bill determining public interest in the expropriation of real estate for the construction of magisterial pipeline MG-11 at a sitting scheduled by the National Assembly Speaker.

After recess, the Chairman of the Legislative Committee Vlatko Ratkovic informed the National Assembly that the sitting could not be held due to a lack of quorum. He stated his personal opinion that the Bill adheres to the Constitution and legal system of the Republic of Serbia.

The Bills were elaborated by the Minister of Energy and Mining, Petar Skundric.

In the discussion, opposition deputies deemed the Bill determining public interest in the expropriation of real estate for the construction of magisterial pipeline MG-11 unconstitutional and contrary to the Expropriation Law. It was said that by the Bill the Government seriously compromised cooperation with Russia because it had submitted a Bill that could be disputed before the Constitutional Court and prolong the construction of the gas pipeline.

By the end of the day the National Assembly had concluded the joint discussion in principle on the four energy Bills.

On the eighth day of work, 9 November, the National Assembly completed a joint discussion in principle on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Travel Documents.

Elaborating the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Travel Documents on the behalf of the submitters, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic stressed that the Bill envisages the extension of the validity of the old-form passports to 31 December 2010 instead of the end of 2009 as the Law on Travel Documents originally stipulated and stated the reasons for it.

In the afternoon part of the proceedings, the National Assembly commenced a joint discussion in principle on the Bill on Unified Voters’ List.

Elaborating the Bill on Unified Voters’ List, the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic stressed that its adoption would enable the creation of a unified electronic voters’ list which would in turn provide an accurate and up-to-date list of voters in Serbia.

On the ninth day, 10 November, the National Assembly continued the session by a discussion in principle on the Bill on the Unified Voters’ List.

Before commencing the discussion according to the agenda, deputies Slobodan Maras, Miroslav Markicevic, Paja Momcilov, Vladan Batic, Radojko Obradovic and Tomislav Nikolic exercised their right under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and requested information and explanations from competent institutions.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the deputies completed the discussion in principle on the Bill on the Unified Voters’ List.

In the continuation, the deputies commenced a discussion in principle on the Bill on Gender Equality. Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic, representative of the submitters, elaborated the Bill for the deputies. He stressed that its adoption completed the legal grounds for further fight against discrimination, improved the protection of human rights and harmonised the domestic legislation with the international. The Minister added that the adoption of the Bill would create the legal framework necessary to eliminate disparities in the average salary and unemployment between women and men. The Bill enables equal opportunities in the achievement of rights of women and men, elimination of gender discrimination and defines the procedure for personal protection. The innovations proposed by the Bill pertain to employment, social and health protection, and guarantee the right to equal payment for the same work.

In the discussion the majority deputies pointed out the importance of adopting the Bill, stressing that Serbia was the only country in the region lacking a law that guarantees gender equality. The representatives of certain opposition deputy groups emphasised the importance of the gender equality issue, but pointed out that the public authorities were not sufficiently prepared to implement such a law. Better solutions for certain provisions from the previous gender equality bills were also brought to light.

By the end of the day the deputies had completed the discussion in principle on the Bill on Gender Equality.

On the tenth day of work, 11 November, the National Assembly conducted a discussion in principle on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Amicable Resolution of Labour Disputes. Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic pointed out that the proposed amendments and modifications would improve the efficiency of the Agency for Amicable Resolution of Labour Disputes. The modifications propose that, in addition to the signees of collective contracts, representative unions and employers’ organisations, a labour dispute can be initiated by other unions, employee groups and employees who believe themselves denied one of their collective or individual labour rights. Besides, the modifications also expand the types of labour disputes that can be the handled by the Agency. The third modification concerns the stipulation of special conditions for the election of arbiter in order to ensure higher legal protection of the participants in such proceedings, Minister Ljajic stressed.

The representatives of the ruling coalition and Liberal Democratic Party endorsed the proposed amendments and modifications to the Law, whereas the opposition deputies pointed out the continuing downward trend in the number of jobs and growth of unemployment.

Before recess, the National Assembly concluded the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Amicable Resolution of Labour Disputes.

In the afternoon, the National Assembly commenced a joint discussion in principle on the Bankruptcy Bill and the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Agency for Licensing Bankruptcy Managers. Explaining the Bankruptcy Bill, Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic stressed that the new law aims to simplify bankruptcy proceedings. He explained that so far the proceedings were handled by the bankruptcy manager and bankruptcy board, but that now, the boards would be abolished so that only one bankruptcy manager would conduct the bankruptcy proceedings thus speeding up the process. In addition, the new solutions also improve the manner of election of bankruptcy judges in line with the existing practice in developed countries.

Minister Dinkic added that the institute of “automatic bankruptcy’ is also introduced for companies suffering a long-term blockade.

For the rest of the day, the National Assembly conducted the joint discussion in principle on these Bills.

On the eleventh day of work, 12 November, the National Assembly continued the joint discussion in principle on the Bankruptcy Bill and the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Agency for Licensing Bankruptcy Managers.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups Vladimir Milentijevic, Momo Colakovic, Paja Momcilov, Vladan Batic, Miroslav Markicevic and Nada Kolundzija requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the President of the Republic, the Serbian Government and the National Assembly Speaker.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic, who was chairing the sitting, issued first reprimand to deputy Zoran Krasic for a violation of the Rules of Procedure.

In the joint discussion in principle on the Bills on Bankruptcy and the Agency for Licensing Bankruptcy Managers, the opposition deputies criticised the proposed solutions stating that they would enable the abuses in these proceedings to continue, while the ruling majority deputies pointed out their importance for improving the efficiency of bankruptcy proceedings.

In the morning part of the session, the National Assembly completed the joint discussion in principle on the Bankruptcy Bill and the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Agency for Licensing Bankruptcy Managers.

After recess, the deputies commenced a joint discussion in principle on the Bill on Watermarks, Bill on Protection of Integrated Circuit Topography, Bill on Legal Protection of Industrial Design and Bill on Copyright and Related Rights.

Elaborating the Bills, Minister of Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Ciplic stated that the adoption of intellectual property Bills is the basic prerequisite for the creation of a system beneficial to both creators and economic subjects, and the consumers and the society as a whole. He stressed that their adoption represents another important step towards European standards, as well as proof that Serbia is a modern and developed state.

By the end of the day the National Assembly had concluded the joint discussion in principle on the Bill on Watermarks, Bill on Protection of Integrated Circuit Topography, Bill on Legal Protection of Industrial Design and Bill on Copyright and Related Rights.

On the twelfth day of work, 16 November, before moving on to the agenda, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic addressed the deputies on the occasion of the death of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle.

“Orthodox believers and citizens of Serbia were deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of their most prominent spiritual leader. His wise words, goodness, perseverance and generosity remain in the memory of the entire orthodox world. Patriarch Pavle’s departure is an unredeemable loss for Serbia and its citizens”, Djukic-Dejanovic said. She added that the National Assembly shall not be in plenary session on the day of the funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, Thursday, 19. November 2009.

Then the National Assembly paid due respect to Patriarch Pavle by a minute of silence.

In the continuation, the National Assembly completed a joint unified discussion on items 31 through 56 on the agenda.

In the afternoon part of the sitting the National Assembly completed a joint unified discussion on the Candidate List for Member of the Council of the Republic Broadcasting Agency from the ranks of domestic non-government organisations and civic associations and the Candidate List for Members of the Programme Committee of the Serbian Broadcasting Agency.

The National Assembly commenced the thirteenth day of the session, 17 November, with a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Organisation of Courts.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups Zoran Babic and Dragan Todorovic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed questions to the Serbian Government and competent ministries.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the National Assembly completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending the Law on Judges, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Public Prosecution, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Organisation and Jurisdiction of Government Authorities in War Crime Proceedings and the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Organisation and Jurisdiction of Government Authorities in Suppression of High Technology Crime, and conducted a discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the Judicial Academy.

After recess, the National Assembly concluded the discussion on the particulars of the Bill on the Judicial Academy.

By the end of the day, the deputies had also completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill on Data Confidentiality.

On the fourteenth day of the session, 18 November, the National Assembly completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Free Accessto Information of Public Importance.

Having completed the discussion, Minister of Culture Nebojsa Bradic stated that the objections it brought to light had been extensive and would help improve the Bill. He repeated that the proposed amendments and modifications were aimed at a more efficient implementation of the Law for the benefit of Serbian citizens.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the Chair, Gordana Comic, informed the deputies that the session was attended by high-school students from the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, beneficiaries of the scholarships awarded by the Serbian Government’s Coordination Body for the south of Serbia, visiting Belgrade and the most important State institutions.

The National Assembly went on to complete a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Civil Servants.

After recess, the National Assembly commenced a discussion on the particulars of the Bill determining the maximum number of employees in republic administration.

Since no representatives of the submitters were present at the sitting, the National Assembly halted the discussion on the particulars of the Bill. The Chair, Gordana Comic said that on Voting Day the National Assembly would decide whether Ministers Milan Markovic, Zarko Obradovic, Mladjan Dinkic and Rasim Ljajic had violated the National Assembly rules of Procedure.

On the fifteenth day, 20 November, the National Assembly continued the proceedings by discussing the particulars of the Bill determining the maximum number of employees in republic administration.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the deputies completed the discussion on the particulars of the Bill.

In the afternoon, the deputies completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill determining the maximum number of employees in local administration and the Bill regulating the relationship between the Republic of Serbia and loan recipient or guarantor for obligations undertaken under International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Loans.

In the morning part of the proceedings on the sixteenth day of the session, 23 November, the National Assembly completed a discussion on the amendments to the Bill on Classification of Activities, Bill on Official Statistics, Bill on 2011 Census on Population, Households and Dwellings and the Bill on 2011 Agricultural Census.

The National Assembly went on to complete a discussion on the amendments to the Bill determining public interest in the expropriation of real estate for the construction of magisterial pipeline MG-11and the Bill on Pipeline Transportation of Gas and Liquid Hydrocarbons and Distribution of Gas Hydrocarbons. Minister of Energy Petar Skundric responded to the deputies’ numerous objections to these Bills.

The Chair, Nikola Novakovic informed the National Assembly that the Second Sitting of the Second Regular Session in 2009 was to be called to a recess since the National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, had convened the Fourth Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly in 2009 for the following day. The deputies shall be informed about the continuation of the current session in due time.

On the seventeenth day of work, 1 December, the National Assembly completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Mining Law and the Bill on Expiration of the Law on Affiliation into Community of Yugoslav Electro-Economy.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Milica Vojic-Martinovic, Miroslav Markicevic, Slobodan Maras, Vlajko Senic, Dragan Stevanovic and Jorgovanka Tabakovic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and the National Assembly Speaker.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the National Assembly completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Travel Documents.

The National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic informed the deputies that part of the sitting was being viewed from by the members of the delegation of the Self-help group for people living with HIV, reminding them that 1 December is the International Day Against AIDS.

On the eighteenth day, 2 December, the National Assembly continued the proceedings by discussing the particulars of the Bill on the Unified Voters’ List.

In the morning part of the proceedings, the deputies completed the discussion on the particulars of the Bill.

In the afternoon the deputies commenced a discussion on the particulars of the Gender Equality Bill.

For the rest of the day the deputies conducted the discussion on the particulars of the Bill.

On the nineteenth day of work, 3 December, the National Assembly concluded the discussion on the particulars of the Gender Equality Bill.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic informed the deputies that part of the sitting would be attended by representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities, visiting the National Assembly House on the occasion of the International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December.

Greeting the guests, Gordana Comic invited the deputies to help raise awareness in their communities on the needs of disabled persons and contribute to their inclusion in all spheres of social life. She reminded them that in May the National Assembly adopted the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons that is to begin implementation on 21 May 2010 and that obliges employers to employ these persons.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Nikola Krpic, Radojko Obradovic, Dragan Todorovic, Snezana Stojanovic-Plavsic, Zlata Djeric, Tomislav Nikolic and Jovan Damjanovic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and the National Assembly Speaker.

At the proposal of the Administrative Committee, the National Assembly noted the termination of term of office of deputy Dragan Vujadinovic, elected from the For European Serbia-Boris Tadic electoral list, before the expiration of the term he was elected for.

Based on the report of the Republic Electoral Commission and Administrative Committee, the National Assembly noted the verification of term of office of deputy Slobodan Gojkovic, elected from the For European Serbia-Boris Tadic electoral list.

The National Assembly went on to complete a discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Amicable Resolution of Labour Disputes and conducted a discussion on the particulars of the Bankruptcy Bill.

On the twentieth day of the session, 4 December, the National Assembly continued the discussion on the particulars of the Bankruptcy Bill.

In the morning part of the proceedings the National Assembly concluded the discussion on the particulars of this Bill and the discussion on the particulars of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Agency for Licensing Bankruptcy Managers.

On the twenty-first day of work, 8 December, the National Assembly completed a discussion on the particulars of the Bill on Watermarks, Bill on Protection of Integrated Circuit Topography, Bill on Legal Protection of Industrial Design and the Bill on Copyright and Related Rights.

At the beginning of the proceedings, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the Deputy Groups, Dragan Stevanovic, Dragan Sormaz, Tomislav Nikolic, Slobodan Maras and Miroslav Markicevic requested information and explanations, under article 235 of the Rules of Procedure, and posed several questions to the Serbian Government and the National Assembly Speaker.