Today, at the National Assembly House, European Parliament Vice-President Dr László Tőkés, visiting Serbia from 2 to 4 November, talked in separate meetings with the members of the European Integrations Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by their respective Chairmen Laszlo Varga and Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic.

In the meeting with the European Integrations Committee members, EP Vice-President strongly supported Serbia on its road of European integration and noted that the European Parliament representatives’ frequent visits to Serbia speak of the European parliamentarians’ interest in Serbia’s speedy integration into Europe. László Tőkés commended the creation of national minority councils in Serbia and declared that European standards have been reached in this field. He pointed out the fact that we are in the same region and share the same problems and that Romania’s experiences can assist Serbia on the road to EU accession.

Committee Chairman Laszlo Varga briefed the guests from the European Parliament on the results achieved and steps Serbia plans to take after the Council of Ministers’ decision to unblock Serbia’s candidacy. In view of it, he emphasised Serbia’s expectation to gain EU candidacy status by the end of 2011. Varga reminded that a Friendship Group with Serbia was created at the European Parliament recently, comprising about 40 EP deputies, and invited Vice-President Tőkés to become a member.

Committee members Gordana Comic, Momir Markovic, Branko Ruzic and Jasmina Milosevic took part in the meeting.

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic expressed his expectation that neighbouring Hungary, which is to assume chairmanship over the European Union in the first half of next year, will actively contribute to Serbia’s speedier EU accession.

He stressed that accession to the European Union and improvement of neighbourly relations are Serbian foreign policy priorities. Historical and political reconciliation is the premise for the real improvement of relations with neighbouring and former Yugoslav countries and development of economic, cultural and all other types of cooperation, which can be reached only by shedding light on the events and facts primarily of World war Two and the recent wars in the region.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Foreign Affairs Committee member Gordana Comic stated that strong regional cooperation and Serbia’s contribution to reduce security risks in Europe through a concentrated struggle against terrorism and organised crime were among Serbia’s foreign policy priorities.

As a representative of the Hungarian minority in Romania, European Parliament Vice-President László Tőkés stressed that Romania endorses Serbia’s European integration, but not Kosovo independence.