The reports were presented by the minister in charge of European integration, Branko Ruzic who said that the legislative activity in the previous period had been very intensive and 84% of the recommendations had been met in the third quarter, making it 82% of the total. Minister Ruzic added that screening of chapter 32 – financial control, would be launched in the upcoming period, which would, along with chapters 23 and 24, greatly influence the dynamics of the accession process.

In the discussion with the Minister, the Committee members asked about the methodology of the strategic planning of the Government’s work, further reform of state administration, the Government’s actual work plan for the rest of 2013, and the situation as regards the number of asylum-seekers.

The Committee also adopted the Report on the implementation of the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) for the first and second quarter of 2013, by a majority of votes, which was also presented by the minister in charge of European integration, Branko Ruzic. He said that the legislative activity planned for said period had been realised to a great extent i.e. 69% of the NPAA had been fulfilled in the first six months, meaning that out of the 131 regulations planned, 111 had been passed. Ruzic highlighted the importance of the adoption of laws in the fields of elementary education and upbringing, trade, railway transport, accounting and auditing. Out of the 14 bills submitted by the Government, the National Assembly passed 10, added Ruzic.

In the continuation, chief negotiator with the EU Tanja Miscevic informed the Committee on the negotiation structure for the talks on the accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union. Miscevic said that the so-called Croatia-Slovenia model had been followed in the construction of the negotiation structure which is the most familiar considering that both Croatia and Slovenia are states risen and developed from the same legal order as Serbia. The negotiation structure consists of experts divided into 35 negotiating groups. Each group is headed by a state secretary. All of them comprise the Coordination Body Council i.e. the supreme expert body advising the defining of the negotiation framework.

Committee Chairperson Natasa Vuckovic asked how the budget for the needs of the negotiating team is secured, how the National Assembly is to be kept informed about the screening process and the about the Government’s policy as regards cooperation with civil society in the negotiation process.

Finally, the Committee adopted the Information on the negotiation structure for the talks on the accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, by a majority of votes.

This sitting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Natasa Vuckovic.