The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) have been enjoying successful cooperation for years by realising a series of various activities.

NDI is a non-profit organization which, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), offers practical assistance all over the world advancing the work of democratic institutions by promoting citizen participation in the political process.

NDI’s assistance to the National Assembly as the supreme legislative body in the fulfillment of its legislative, control and representative function has intensified in the last years, which was confirmed on December 18, 2009 by the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation.

The document defines the partnership and the National Assembly’s activities through programmes aimed at bringing the parliament closer to the citizens.

In 2009 the National Assembly and NDI launched the pilot project of opening parliamentary constituency offices at the local level.

These offices are envisaged as a place where the citizens can voice their opinions on certain issues and civic initiatives in direct communication with the MPs. The goal of such communication is to motivate and develop cooperation between the MPs and citizens. This brings the Assembly’s work and activities closer to the citizens achieving a higher degree of transparency and increasing the responsibility of the elected representatives to the people.

The first office was opened in Leskovac, on April 1, 2009. The office was opened by MP Snezana Stojanovic-Plavsic, US Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Nikola Novakovic.

The second office was opened in Novi Pazar on July 7, 2009 as a common parliamentary constituency office to be used by the MPs from the territories of Novi Pazar, Tutin and Priboj. The office was opened by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Judita Popovic and MPs Munir Poturak, Kenan Hajdarevic and Serif Hamzagic.

The third office was opened in Belgrade at the Municipality of Savski Venac on May 26, 2009. The office was opened by National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, USAID Mission Director to Serbia Michael Harvey and MPs Natasa Vuckovic and Nenad Konstantinovic.

The fourth office was opened in Valjevo on November 6, 2009. The office was opened by MPs Djordje Milicevic and Branko Ruzic in the presence of National Assembly Secretary General Veljko Odalovic and NDI Director in Serbia Tom Kelly.

The fifth office was opened in Zrenjanin on April 22, 2010. The office was opened by National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic. The opening was attended by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Judita Popovic and MPs Elvira Kovacs, Zoran Kasalovic, Milorad Krstin, Gabor Lodi and Jelena Travar-Miljevic, as well as Tom Kelly, NDI Director in Serbia.