Thursday, 27 September 2018

44th Sitting of the European Integration Committee

At the sitting held on 27 September 2018, the European Integration Committee considered the Report on the Republic of Serbia EU accession negotiations during the Estonian Presidency-in-Office (June-December 2017) and the Report on the National programme for adoption of the EU acquis (NPAA), in the second quarter of 2018.


Presenting the Report on the Republic of Serbia EU accession negotiations during the Estonian Presidency-in-Office (June-December 2017), the Head of the Negotiating Team for Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, Prof. Dr Tanja Miscevic said that it gives a breakdown of all that was accomplished during the Estonian Presidency-in-Office, which for us was a surprise. In said period, four negotiation chapters were opened and Estonia scheduled one more intergovernmental conference which is surprising since enlargement was not one of the presidency’s priorities, said Miscevic. The Bulgarian Presidency-in-Office brought many positive changes because enlargement became a priority again, there was a Summit and the European Commission presented a Strategy. Chapters 33 and 13 were opened in this period, Miscevic said. She added that the enlargement process is following a consistent trend which the two presidencies proved. The process could be faster, but in the meantime a document was drafted on the progress and the rule of law, followed by a progress assessment report which is key for the closure of chapters and the conclusion was that progress had been made, but it could be better, which is something Serbia is working on. Miscevic informed the Committee members about the changes in the Negotiating Team and the cooperation with the Ministry for European Integration. She said that two new negotiating chapters are being prepared – transport policy and Trans-European networks, as well as two intergovernmental conferences. She added that Germany had noted Serbia’s progress as regards Chapter 23 which the German Ambassador to Serbia had confirmed to the Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic.

Following a debate the Committee members unanimously accepted the Report on the Republic of Serbia EU accession negotiations during the Estonian Presidency-in-Office (June-December 2017).

Assistant Minister for European Integration Ksenija Milenkovic presented the Report on the National programme for adoption of the EU acquis (NPAA), in the second quarter of 2018. She said that a revised NPAA was adopted in March 2018 according to which the deadline for the complete harmonization of national legislation with the acquis was set for 2021, accompanied by quarterly reports. In addition to standard methodology, the NPAA now has two new elements – reporting on and expansion of administrative capacities and financial instructions on the effects of the adoption and implementation of NPAA regulations jointly drafted by the Ministry for European Integration and Ministry of Finance, said Milenkovic. She added the Ministry is not happy about the 27% fulfilment achieved in the second quarter, so the ministries were urged to respect the deadlines they had themselves set. However, Milenkovic said the NPAA has since March been following a positive trend – 52% fulfilment, with the average lag being one quarter. The Report on the third quarter is currently being compiled and will be submitted to the Government for consideration said the Assistant Minister, adding that she expects all the ministries to dedicate themselves fully to their duties.

Following a debate the Committee members unanimously accepted the Report on the National programme for adoption of the EU acquis (NPAA), in the second quarter of 2018.

The Committee members were also relayed the appeal of Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic to have a topical sitting where the semi-annual report on the progress of Serbia’s EU talks would be presented.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Nenad Canak, and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Olivera Pesic, Zvonimir Djokic, Dragan Veljkovic, Aleksandar Stevanovic, Zarko Micin, Vesna Markovic, Ivana Nikolic, Dubravka Filipovski, Haji Milorad Stosic and Gordana Comic.


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friday, 29 march
  • 9.00 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Speaker’s Cabinet)

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