28 January 2020 Speaker Gojkovic at the summit of Western Balkans’ parliament speakers

28 January 2020 Speaker Gojkovic at the summit of Western Balkans’ parliament speakers

Tuesday, 28 January 2020

Gojkovic at Summit of Western Balkans Parliament Speakers

Taking part in the summit of Western Balkans’ parliament speakers and the European Parliament in Brussels today, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojkovic stressed that the region’s clear future prospects of European integration are vital and the EU has to reaffirm its standing as a community of values through the enlargement process and strengthening of democratic institutions.


At the summit dedicated to the strengthening of the parliamentary dimension of the enlargement process and empowerment of the parliaments in the region, Gojkovic said that Serbia remains committed to EU accession and fully supports the enlargement policy.

“We trust that the current legislature of the European Commission would continue the policy through concrete steps. Its importance not only for our region, but for Europe as a whole has to be recognized” Gojkovic stressed.

The Serbian Assembly Speaker said that Serbia is committed to these values irrespective of the Euro-integration process and the reforms conducted on the path to the EU, even when difficult, are implemented in the interest of our citizens.

“We expect the Council of Europe, EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb and the Conference on the Future of the Europe to result in significant steps forward. It is especially important that this be reflected in the new 2021-2027 EU budget cycle”, Gojkovic said adding that it is essential to set a timeline and clear methodology for the future EU negotiations which need to contribute to the quality of the EU talks and eliminate any uncertainties for all of us involved in the process.

Gojkovic said that the parliament plays a key role in the accession talks by harmonizing the national legislation with the EU acquis and taking active part in the adoption of negotiating positions as well as by helping the general public become better acquainted with the EU structures and processes.

“To be able to perform this important task the parliament has to have a clear overview of the path to Euro-integration”, said Gojkovic stressing that the National Assembly’s work has been improved thanks to, first and foremost, the recommendations of the European Commission. Gojkovic thanked the European Parliament for its active participation in the inter-party dialogue to help improve the electoral process for the coming parliamentary elections and for including a considerable number of political subjects in the debate.

Gojkovic said that the Parliament is about to discuss lowering the electoral threshold from 5% to 3% which would improve its representability, give a strong impulse to the European value of pluralism and give the opportunity to include a wider spectrum of different political ideas and views into the supreme legislative body.

“This means an important liberalisation of regulations that contributes to the development of political life in the institutions and an important investment into the future of democracy”, said Gojkovic.

Gojkovic stressed the importance of regional cooperation under the patronage of the EU within the Berlin Process and the importance of CEFTA that enabled the creation of a free trade zone in South-East Europe, urging the CEFTA signatories to fully respect and implement what they had signed.

The summit was concluded with the adoption of the Joint Declaration of the Western Balkans’ parliament speakers with the President of the European Parliament and Croatian Parliament Speaker representing the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council, reaffirming the parliaments’ key role in the promotion of the EU reform agenda and fulfilment of the Western Balkans’ European aspirations.

The European Council is asked to continue to support the Western Balkans’ European prospects based on the fulfilment of accession criteria and send a clear and positive political message concerning the opening of accession talks and approval of candidate status.

The Joint Declaration states that the Summit in Zagreb should play a vital role in helping the enlargement policy regain credibility and lend new, effective momentum to the process through concrete conclusions that would bring the region closer to the European Union and ensure the sustainability of the Western Balkans’ European prospects.



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thursday, 28 march
  • 9.00 - consultations of representatives of the parliamentary groups about the election of deputy chairpersons of the National Assembly working bodies (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, hall 1)

  • 10.00 - visit of the students of Stevan Dukic Elementary School to the National Assembly House (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square)

  • 11.00 - visit of the students of Drinka Pavlovic Elementary School Student Parliament to the National Assembly House (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square)

  • 11.00 - press conference of the Green-Left Front – Don’t Let Belgrade D(r)оwn Parliamentary Group (National Assembly House 13, Nikola Pasic Square. Central Hall)

Full event calendar