The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, convened the Eighth Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2010, for Wednesday, 22 December 2010, starting at 2:30 p.m.

The National Assembly set the following agenda:

1. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Execution of the Prison Sentence for Criminal Offenses of Organised Crime, submitted by the Government;

2. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Organisation of Courts, submitted by the Government;

3. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on Judges, submitted by the Government;

4. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on Public Prosecution, submitted by the Government;

5. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on the High Judicial Council, submitted by the Government;

6. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on the State Prosecutorial Council, submitted by the Government;

7. The Bill on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Serbia, with its accompanying proposals of decisions granting consent to the financial plans for 2011 of:

1) the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Employees,

2) the Republic Health Insurance Agency,

3) the National Employment Service, submitted by the Government;

8. The Bill amending and modifying the Budget System Law, submitted by the Government;

9. The Bill amending and modifying the Property Tax Law, submitted by the Government;

10. The Bill amending and modifying the Value Added Tax Law, submitted by the Government;

11. The Bill amending the Excise Tax Law, submitted by the Government;

12. The Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Tax Payable on the Use, Keeping and Carrying Goods, submitted by the Government;

13. The Bill amending and modifying the Pension and Disability Insurance Law, submitted by the Government;

14. The Proposal of the Decision amending the Decision on the election of Committee members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) – United Serbia (US) Deputy Group;

15. The Collective candidate list for the election of members of the National Council for Higher Education, submitted by the Education Committee;

16. The Proposal of the Decision on the dismissal of National Education Council member, submitted by the Education Committee;

17. The Proposal of the Decision on the dismissal of National Education Council member, submitted by the Education Committee;

18. The Proposal of the Decision on termination of office of Deputy Ombudsperson, submitted by the Constitutional Issues Committee.

In line with article 157, paragraph 2 of the Rules of Procedure, National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic informed the deputies that the National Assembly would conduct a joint debate in principle on items 1 through 6 on the agenda.

Elaborating the amendments and modifications to the judiciary laws, Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic said that they aim to create the preconditions for a positive opinion of the European Commission regarding the European Union membership candidate status. In order to prevent any negative criticism by the European Commission, the competent authorities are fully prepared to remove all doubt in the judiciary reform process, in particular the process for the general election of judiciary office bearers, stressed Minister Malovic.

For the remainder of the day, the National Assembly conducted and concluded the joint debate in principle on items 1 through 6 on the agenda.

On the second day of work, 23 December, the National Assembly continued the session with a joint debate in principle on items 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 on the agenda.

At the beginning of the proceedings, deputies Milos Aligrudic, Dragan Sormaz, Jovan Damjanovic, Bojan Djuric, Zlata Djeric and Dragan Todorovic requested information and explanations in line with article 286 of the Rules of Procedure

Elaborating the Bill on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Serbia, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that the proposed budget was in the function of the country’s long-term development, stimulating the economy and raising the state’s social responsibility. Development and saving, two key principles of economic recovery, were followed in the drafting of the document, and the budget is first of all realistic, giving an objective image of Serbia’s economy, but it is also stimulating as it provides support for the economy, industrial development, export and envisages the realisation of significant infrastructural projects, stressed Cvetkovic. He also said that in the coming year, which would not be as difficult, the Government would pursue a safe and stable policy, without risk, improvisation, experimenting or any moves that might impede the country’s democratic development.

The realisation of a new model of economic development is to start in 2011, which should provide a sound standing for the Serbian economy and the budget is aimed towards that goal, concluded Cvetkovic.

Elaborating the 2011 budget proposal, Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinovic said that it complies with the fiscal rules limiting the state budget deficit to 4.1% GDP, decreasing public consumption, unfreezing salaries and pensions and securing money for all social allocations envisaged by law. She deemed it necessary that in the coming years Serbia continue to have a budget deficit in order to ensure a solid economic recovery with the support of the NBS monetary policy so that there would be no pressure on the inflation. The Minister pointed out that the 2011 budget aims to decrease the budget by 2015 to 1% GDP, stabilise public expenditure, public debt and pursue a fiscal policy compliant with the principle of intergenerational equity.

For the remainder of the day the National Assembly conducted and concluded the joint debate in principle on items 7 through 13 on the agenda.

On the third day of work, 24 December, the National Assembly commenced and completed a unified debate on the Proposal of the Decision amending the Decision on the election of Committee members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) – United Serbia (US) Deputy Group; on the Collective candidate list for the election of members of the National Council for Higher Education, submitted by the Education Committee; on the Proposal of the Decision on the dismissal of National Education Council member, submitted by the Education Committee and on the Proposal of the Decision on the dismissal of National Education Council member, submitted by the Education Committee. Compliant with article 15 of the Law on the Ombudsman, the National Assembly shall not conduct a debate on item 18 on the agenda - the Proposal of the Decision on termination of office of Deputy Ombudsperson, submitted by the Constitutional Issues Committee.

On the fourth day of work, 27 December, the National Assembly completed a debate on the particulars on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Execution of the Prison Sentence for Criminal Offenses of Organised Crime, Bill amending the Law on the Organisation of Courts, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Judges, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Public Prosecution, Bill amending and modifying the Law on the High Judicial Council and the Bill amending and modifying the Law on the State Prosecutorial Council.

After recess, the National Assembly commenced a debate on the particulars on the Bill on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Serbia, with its accompanying proposals of decisions granting consent to the financial plans for 2011 of:

1) the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Employees,

2) the Republic Health Insurance Agency,

3) the National Employment Service.

On the fifth day of work, 28 December, the National Assembly continued the session with a debate on the particulars on the Bill on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Serbia, with its accompanying proposals of decisions granting consent to the financial plans for 2011.

At the beginning of the proceedings, deputies Zoran Masic, Dragan Todorovic, Mirko Cikiriz, Ivan Andric and Zoran Sami requested information and explanations in line with article 286 of the Rules of Procedure.

The deputies also debated the amendments submitted to the Bills amending and modifying the Budget System Law, the Property Tax Law, the Value Added Tax Law, amending the Excise Tax Law, amending and modifying the Law on the Tax Payable on the Use, Keeping and Carrying Goods, and the Bill amending and modifying the Pension and Disability Insurance Law.

After recess, the Chair, Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic informed the deputies that part of the National Assembly sitting was being observed from the gallery of the Great Hall by a group of citizens interested in the National Assembly’s work.

By the end of the day, the National Assembly had concluded the discussion on the particulars on items 7 to 13 on the agenda.

As the National Assembly had completed the discussion on all the items on the agenda, National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic set Wednesday, 29 December 2010, as Voting Day on the items on the agenda for the Eighth Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly in 2010, starting at 1 p.m.

Voting Day

On Voting Day, 29 December, by a majority of votes, the National Assembly adopted the Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Execution of the Prison Sentence for Criminal Offenses of Organised Crime, Bill amending and modifying the Law on the Organisation of Courts, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Judges, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Public Prosecution, Bill amending and modifying the Law on the High Judicial Council, Bill amending and modifying the Law on the State Prosecutorial Council.

The National Assembly adopted the Bill on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Serbia, with its accompanying proposals of decisions granting consent to the financial plans for 2011 of: the Republic Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of Employees, the Republic Health Insurance Agency and the National Employment Service, as well as the Bills amending and modifying: the Budget System Law, the Property Tax Law, the Value Added Tax Law, the Law on the Tax Payable on the Use, Keeping and Carrying Goods, the Pension and Disability Insurance Law and the Bill amending the Excise Tax Law.

After recess, Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic informed the National Assembly that deputy Vladan Batic had passed away. The deputies honoured the late Vladan Batic by a minute of silence.

The National Assembly went on to adopt the Proposal of the Decision amending the Decision on the election of Committee members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) – United Serbia (US) Deputy Group, the Collective candidate list for the election of members of the National Council for Higher Education, submitted by the Education Committee, the Proposal of the Decision on the dismissal of National Education Council member, submitted by the Education Committee, the Proposal of the Decision on the dismissal of National Education Council member, submitted by the Education Committee and the Proposal of the Decision on termination of office of Deputy Ombudsperson, submitted by the Constitutional Issues Committee.

Since the National Assembly had completed the discussion on all the items on the agenda, National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic concluded the Eighth Sitting of the Second Regular Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2010.

Having concluded the sitting, National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic wished all the best in the New Year to all Serbian citizens, on the behalf of the deputies and herself.