National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Thursday, 4 April 2013
14th Sitting of the Foreign Affairs Committee
At the sitting held on 4 April, the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee conducted an interview with Dusko Lopandic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, before deployment for diplomatic duty.
Ambassador Lopandic stressed that though Serbia is “at the doorstep” of a transforming entity, EU membership is very significant and important for Serbia. Every EU enlargement has had a comprehensive and positive impact on less developed countries and prompted said countries’ modernisation. The Ambassador presented the EU today from Serbia’s point of view as membership candidate, as well as the bilateral relations with the EU with a special focus on the European Commission’s upcoming progress report on Serbia expected on 16 April and the European Council’s decision on the start date for EU talks, expected on 28 June. In addition to this, he also pointed out several important issues for Serbia at the moment such as preserving the visa liberalization, implementation of IPA programmes in Serbia both as regards the non-refundable funds and the European Investment Bank loans, and participation in EU peace mission.
The Committee members went on to discuss the Bill on Conclusion and Implementation of International Treaties, in detail. The MPs had submitted 25 amendments to the Bill. Considering that the Government’s opinion had not arrived before the beginning of the Committee sitting, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Committee on the proposal the Ministry had sent to the Government so it could vote on each amendment. The Ministry had proposed that the Government accept eight of the MPs’ amendments, while the Committee decided to accept nine of the amendments. The Committee also submitted an amendment of its own to article 20 of the Bill.
The Committee members gave consent to the visits by foreign delegations to the National Assembly, noted the activities of the standing delegations in the upcoming period and accepted reports on visits and contacts realised.
The Committee members accepted the initiative to constitute parliamentary friendship groups with the Denmark, the Gulf States and Latvia and amended and modified the membership of the already formed parliamentary friendship groups.
The sitting was chaired by Milos Aligrudic, Committee Chairman.
Committees related to this activity
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11.00 - sitting of the Committee on the Economy, Regional Development, Trade, Tourism and Energy (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Small Hall)
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12.00 - the members of the PFG with Israel meet with the Israeli Ambassador to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 3)
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12.00 - the members of the PFG with Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island States meet with the Australian Ambassador to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 2)
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12.00 - press conference of the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG) – Party of Democratic Action of Sandzak (SDA Sandzak) – Party for Democratic Action (PDD) and the Green-Left Front – Don’t Let Belgrade D(r)own parliamentary groups (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square)
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13.00 - press conference of the MP Radoslav Milojicic (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square)
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15.00 - sitting of the Committee on Labour, Social Issues, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 3)
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15.00 - sitting of the Committee on Administrative, Budgetary, Mandate and Immunity Issues (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 2)
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18.15 - solemn academy “Under the Same Sky”, commemorating the National Day of Roma victims of WWII, accompanied by exhibition “Combing Through Time” (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Central Hall)