Marinkovic opined that the visit was important for the two countries’ cooperation and the enhancement of both economic and overall cooperation. He said that regional cooperation and improving the relations among the Western Balkan states is the focus of Serbia’s efforts, a venture greatly assisted by the Berlin Process which the UK supports.

He also opined that there is ample room for cooperation between Serbia and the UK and hopes they would work on furthering cooperation in the field of defence, economy, new investments and on boosting the volume of trade. Marinkovic said that Serbia also expected support as regards the migrant crisis during which it had proved itself to be a reliable partner, adding that the country is ready to take part in the fight against terrorism, where as a small country it can lend its support against this plague of the 21st century.

“The path to the EU is our only path forward, we want to become a member state for the sake of our citizens and want to adopt the highest European standards and norms and become a modern state”, said Marinkovic speaking of the Euro-integration process. He said that instability in any of the countries in the region is bad for Serbia because it affects, among other things, economic indicators, and hoped that stronger cooperation in the region would lead to the realization of infrastructural projects and foster better ties among the people living in it.

“The implementation of the Brussels Agreement is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia which had shown, by signing it, its willingness to find a solution to the problem through dialogue. Maintaining an uninterrupted dialogue is important for us to ensure the security of the Serbs living in Kosovo-Metohija and, by cooperating with the Albanian side, to find a solution for the day-to-day lives of all the people in Kosovo-Metohija”, said Deputy Speaker Marinkovic.

Lord Howell of Guildford opined that the world and the EU are changing, and these changes bring new opportunities and challenges to this part of the world. He added that the visit to Serbia is an excellent opportunity to promote cooperation, if not within the EU, then, certainly, in other areas.

The UK Parliamentarians were interested in the issue of their country’s support to Serbia as regards the migrant crisis and how the Serbia Parliament was discussing the EU accession, relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the attitude toward Kosovo-Metohija.

Besides Lord Howell of Guildford, the delegation of the UK Parliament’s House of Lords also comprises Baroness Hilton of Eggardon, Lord Purvis of Tweed and Lord Wood of Anfield.