The meeting focused on Serbia’s European integration process, implementation of reforms and the use of European Union pre-accession funds (IPA).
Committee Chairperson Milica Delevic and the Committee members informed the guests about the European Integration Committee’s work and scope which are primarily aimed at examining the compliance of the bills sent to the National Assembly with European legislation. Delevic underlined the importance of the pre-accession funds especially for the modernisation of the Serbian administration and infrastructural projects. Speaking of the reform in Serbia, Delevic said that Serbia’s most difficult task is harmonising the national legislation with European Union standards in the spheres of agriculture and environmental protection, and added that beginning membership talks is the best way to continue the reform.
The members of the delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets commended the use of IPA funds, pointing out that administrative reform is necessary in order to enable the Serbian administration to handle decentralised fund management - meaning independent management of the funds received. The delegation members asked about the Serbian citizens’ opinion about the European integration process and emphasised the importance of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for addressing the Kosovo issue. It was noted that the reform process needs to continue especially in the fields of anti-corruption, anti-discrimination, human rights protection and media freedom.
The meeting was attended by Vincent Degert, Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia.