The Chairperson of the European Integration Committee Marinika Tepic said that the delegation of the EP Former Members Association is like a miniature model of the European Parliament and she hopes the Serbian MPs will be able to pattern themselves on the former MEP’s experience of living and working in the community of European people, something which Serbia as a state strives to achieve. She briefly outlined the role of the National Assembly and the Committee she chairs in the European integration process, especially in establishing negotiating positions on the chapters, and highlighted the cooperation with the National Convention on the EU. Tepic said that the current National Assembly legislature has Eurosceptics among its members, opining that this provides a good opportunity to confront opposing views and arguments for and against European integration.

“I am deeply convinced that even those belonging to the Eurosceptic opposition share the European values and want a regulated state where human rights are a fundamental principle, which implements anti-corruption measures, which, along with peace and stability, are the values the EU is based on”, said Tepic.

The European Integration Committee Chairperson also spoke about the National Assembly’s oversight of the application and implementation of everything contained in the negotiating chapters, stressing the importance of intensifying parliamentary diplomacy.

The head of the FMA delegation Jan-Willem Bertens said that the former MEPs are using their experience to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and promote debate on the future of the EU. He said that all 16 of the delegation members from seven European countries understand the role of the parliament in the EU accession process and that their visit came at a key point for Serbia. Bertens applauded the opening of chapters 23 and 24 as the most important ones in the negotiating process stressing that they are proud to see that the European Parliament is Serbia’s side in this process.

The members of the European integration and foreign affairs committees said that EU membership is Serbia’s foreign policy goal and any and all support to Serbia and the region on the path to it is invaluable.

In the comprehensive two-hour discussion the officials agreed that overcoming the challenges facing the Union these days calls for unity and exchanged opinions on the Union’s enlargement policy, Brexit fallout, migrant crisis, growing threat of terrorism, the relations between Serbia and Russia, the reasons behind Serbia’s Euroscepticism, combating discrimination, the reform process and creating a climate conducive to investment.

On the behalf of the European Integration Committee, besides Chairperson Tepic, the meeting was attended by members Zvonimir Djokic, Haji Milorad Stosic, Zarko Micin, Gordana Comic, Elvira Kovacs, Vesna Markovic and Muamer Bacevac, and on the behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee by members Dijana Vukomanovic and Sanda Raskovic Ivic. The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee Vladimir Orlic.