On the behalf of the European Integration Committee, the members of the French Senate delegation were greeted by Dr Dijana Vukomanovic, Committee member, who shared her pleasure at the long standing friendship between the two countries. She thanked them for the support France offers to Serbia on the eve of opening membership talks with the EU. Vukomanovic underlined the Serbian Government’s dedication to the European future, addressing social and economic issues and stressed the efforts the Government invests into making sure the Serbian people in Kosovo-Metohija are integrated into the government institutions. Serbia is also dedicated to the policy of good-neighbourly relations, said Vukomanovic, adding that Serbia strives for a normalisation of relations in the region.
The Chair of the French Senate Committee for European Affairs Simon Sutour commended the efforts Serbia puts into progressing toward the European Union. The French Senate is taking concrete steps in support of Serbia’s European Road, said Sutour, mentioning the recently adopted Senate Resolution and activities of the French MPs in international forums all aimed at supporting Serbia.
The officials also discussed the human rights situation in Kosovo-Metohija, progress achieved in the fight against corruption and crime, position of national minorities and freedom of the media. The members of the European Integration Committee informed the guests that that a resolution is being prepared which would define the National Assembly’s future role in the negotiation process, and the establishment of a Parliamentary Committee to monitor the implementation of the SAA, comprising members of the National Assembly and the European Parliament.
The members of the two delegations agreed that parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role, as do exchanges of opinions and experiences, in the improvement of the two countries’ relations.
The meeting was also attended by Committee members Jadranka Joksimovic, Mladen Grujic, Milanka Karic, Jelena Trivan, Vera Paunovic and Karolj Cizik.