Elvira Kovacs, Deputy Chairperson of the European Integration Committee, thanked the Czech Republic for its support of Serbia’s European integration, stressing that EU accession is Serbia’s strategic objective. She added that the National Assembly follows the national integration programme and the obligations of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement – legislative harmonization with the EU acquis. Kovacs explained that the European Integration Committee’s role as regards the negotiating positions on the chapters is to review them once they arrive in the National Assembly, and also cooperates with numerous NGOs and is in constant communication with the European Commission and other relevant EU institutions. The Deputy Chairperson said that the Republic of Serbia has so far opened eight negotiating chapters and is hoping to, by the end of the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, open two more. She also said that the National Assembly greatly values parliamentary diplomacy and the Republic of Serbia is also investing considerable efforts into regional cooperation which is important for the stability of both the state and the region.

Vaclav Hampl, head of the Czech Senate delegation and Chairman of the Committee on EU Affairs, restated that the Czech Republic supports Serbia’s EU path, as well as that of all the countries in the region. He said that the Czech Republic does not want to be the arbiter on the open issues between the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija and the Republic of Serbia, but does want to offer help to resolve the challenges hindering the dialogue.

Elvira Kovacs said that Serbia is fully dedicated to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue which is currently put on hold due to the election there, but is sure would continue.

The members of the European Integration Committee and the delegation of the Czech Senate exchanged information of their respective parliaments’ operation, and also spoke of the celebration of next years’ 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. European Integration Committee members Zvonimir Djokic, Aleksandar Stevanovic, Dusica Stojkovic and Vesna Markovic attended the meeting.