Tuesday, 8 October 2013
National Assembly Speaker at Euro-Atlantic Conference of Parliament Speakers of Western Balkan Countries
The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Dr Nebojsa Stefanovic took part in the Euro-Atlantic Conference of Parliament Speakers of Western Balkan Countries in Budapest.
Addressing the participants of the Conference about Serbia’s results and aspirations in the European integration process, Speaker Stefanovic said that the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was a turning point in Serbia’s European integration process as it set the ground for the further improvement of political, economic and trade relations and defined the obligation to harmonise the national legislation with the EU acquis communautaire and promote regional cooperation.
Speaker Stefanovic opined that the preparation of the negotiations framework by the European Commission and the beginning of the screening of the reforms implemented up to now and harmonisation with European legislation are of paramount importance for the beginning of systemic reform in Serbia.
Dr Nebojsa Stefanovic stressed that Serbia has begun a decisive combat against corruption and crime and zero-tolerance for corruption is the most important issue in Serbia today. He said that European Union membership is Serbia’s strategic and chief foreign policy goal, just like for the other countries in the region, and stressed that Serbia has launched the negotiations process and has had initial screening meetings with representatives of the European Commission.
Serbian National Assembly Speaker Dr Nebojsa Stefanovic took over the chairing of the Conference in the course of the morning session.
Between the two sessions of the Conference, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Dr Nebojsa Stefanovic met, in separate bilateral meetings, with the Vice-President of the Montenegrin Parliament Branko Radulovic and Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta.
Speaker Stefanovic and the Vice-President of the Montenegrin Parliament discussed interparliamentary cooperation between the two countries, as well as economic cooperation particularly in the spheres of infrastructure, energy, tourism and agriculture.
The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the Albanian Parliament Speaker spoke about beginning to improve the cooperation between the two countries, interparliamentary cooperation via parliamentary friendship groups and resolving differences through dialogue for the stability and in the interest of the citizens and the region.