Greeting the EU delegation, the Chairperson of the European Integration Committee Marinika Tepic said that the committee she chairs has focused on strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, especially at the level of communication and cooperation with the countries in the region. Tepic said that the positive results visible today are actually a recognition of all the governments since 2002 to date during whose mandates the integration process developed at a faster or slower pace, thanking the EU for its continued support. The Committee Chairperson hopes that by the end of the year chapters 25 and 26, focusing on education, science, culture and the youth, would be opened which is very important for raising awareness, especially among the youth, on the values the EU and a well-ordered society rest on.

EU Commissioner Hahn highlighted the importance of today’s meeting among other things in view of the fact that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini’s report is due next week, and conveyed the European Union’s strong support for Serbia’ reform and European integration processes, as well as its commitment to continue with the ambitious reform programme. Hahn was pleased by the cooperation with other the parliaments in the Western Balkan region, adding that these processes need time, because when analysing them one first looks as the region as the whole and only then at individual countries.

In the course of the meeting, the Committee members shared their views on Euro-integration. Gordana Comic said that she understood that some EU member states lack understanding for the EU enlargement process and asked why the EU citizens are somewhat tired of positive expectations. Dusica Stojkovic stressed that the Paris Summit showed that the EU is willing to continue with European integration, adding that Serbia is ready to open the remaining chapters and the Serbian citizens are fully committed to further European integration, evidenced in the results of the April elections. Natasa Vuckovic stressed the importance of opening chapters 23 and 24, drawing attention to the importance of regional stability for the continuation of the Euro-integration process. Aleksandar Stevanovic said that the majority of political parties support the European integration process and that the path to the European family necessitates understanding and stability in the region. Dr Muamer Bacevac agreed that dialogue in the region and regional cooperation are essential for European integration and highlighted the importance of constant presence and inclusion of European officials in the process. Zarko Micin thanked the EU for its support of Serbia’s progress toward EU membership. Dr Vladimir Orlic, Chairman of the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, emphasised the importance of instating European standards, which is especially important for attracting foreign investments, an area in which Serbia is the leader in the region, and stressed that all the reforms in Serbia are conducted with undiminished dynamics. Zvonimir Djokic underlined the importance of friendly relations between the EU and Serbia hoping that the stability of the region will remain a common priority.