Working Group Chair Zoran Babic stressed that the Draft Code, prepared by the previous legislature has set the groundwork, adding that the experiences of other European parliaments which already have a code of conduct for their MPs should be utilized in the preparation of the final text. On the behalf of the Parliamentary Support Department of the OSCE Mission to Belgrade, Natasa Sakota said that they are ready to continue with the support they provided in the preparation of the draft document.

In the debate, the members of the Working Group shared their views on the proposed document. They stressed that the matter to be regulated by the code needs to be clearly defined so that the document would not overlap with the purview of the Anti-Corruption Agency. They also opined that the MPs’ conduct, which is to be regulated by the code, should primarily address their conduct outside of the assembly chamber, since the National Assembly Rules of Procedure already regulate their conduct inside the chamber. They also suggested that they should seek such solutions which would enable more contact between the MPs and the citizens and envisage opening constituency offices.

The Committee members agreed to submit suggestions and proposals for the improvement of the existing text of the code of conduct by 1 April. They also proposed to organise a public debate before the drafting of the final version of the text, announcing that the work on the document might be completed by the end of the spring session, so that it might come into force in September.