At the sitting held on 18 February, the European Integrations Committee considered the Report on the implementation of the amended and modified National Programme for the Integration of the Republic of Serbia into the European Union (NPI), for period October-December 2010.

The Report was presented by Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Integration Bozidar Djelic who declared it very important to complete the implementation of the Government’s Action Plan to speed up the EU candidacy acquisition process by the end of June so as to ensure the European Commission’s positive opinion which should be presented to Serbia by the EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule on 12 October.

Djelic stressed that all the competent authorities should strive to make sure that the EC opinion recommends that Serbia be granted candidacy status and set the date for the commencement of negotiations. He emphasised that the members of the ruling coalition wish to maintain stability and continuity of the activities related to Serbia’s approach to the European Union not only for the sake of meeting the set goals along the road of European integration, but primarily for sake of the citizens of Serbia.

Djelic announced that the European Commission’s first technical mission to Serbia after the Questionnaire has been handed in, who will address the issues of security, judiciary and human rights, is expected by the end of February. In addition, the Committee for the implementation of the SAA i.e. its commercial part, is to meet in Brussels on 22 and 23 March, which is an important part of the preparation for Serbia’s EU bid.

The Committee members criticised the Government which had adopted only two of the planned 16 Bills in the reported period and asked if the Government will be able to work more efficiently in the upcoming period as the work yet to come is still more extensive.

Deputy Prime Minister Djelic said that the reconstruction of the Government can be expected very soon and that all the ministries’ work, including their activity on the NPI, is currently under revision.

The Committee members demanded that the Government request an explanation for the delay in the adoption of by-laws instrumental for the implementation of the adopted laws from all the ministries, as well as concrete responsibility for the negligence.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Laszlo Varga.