Greeting all present, the Head of the Serbian Progressive Party Parliamentary Group Zoran Babic said how pleased he was about the beginning of parliamentary dialogue on the recently opened negotiation chapter and the possibility to discuss public finance with the German Parliamentary State Secretary.

Babic stressed that, since its establishment, the Serbian Progressive Party has been committed to solid budget policy and is dedicated to the creation of conditions for its realisation, adding that a financially clear situation in the public finance is the central issue. “The budget of the Republic Serbia for 2016, passed in December, is based on real income projections and strict control of expenditure, which will, according to IMF estimates, enable us a further 0.75% deficit reduction and an almost 2% GDP growth. Our plan is to enable a reduction of parafiscal charges for most of the economic sector, boost production and placement, create new jobs, increase wages and with it consumption”, said Babic. He said he was sure this policy can attract investment and ensure economic growth, adding that economic development and the overall development of the Serbian society would not be possible without Germany’s clear and strong support.

The Head of the Serbian Progressive Party Parliamentary Group said that political support of the Euro-integration process, economic support through cooperation with Serbian companies, financial support through loans and infrastructural projects, are all part of Germany’s developmental support of Serbia.

Babic also stressed that the Serbian Progressive Party is proud of the results of Aleksandar Vucic’s Government, adding that he was sure that developmental cooperation between Germany and Serbia at the economic and political level is a certainty and ensures Serbia’s European future.

German Parliamentary State Secretary Hans-Joachim Fuchtel was pleased to see 37 MPs take part in the dialogue, stressing that it reflects the successful cooperation between the National Assembly and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Speaking about topics concerning public finance, Fuchtel emphasised the importance of improving the public sector control system, especially in view of the opening of negotiation chapter 32 and underlined the role parliamentarians have in the area.

Fuchtel commended the reforms conducted by the Serbian Government, opining that they may be unpopular, but they are necessary for the attraction of foreign investments and creation of new jobs. Parliamentary State Secretary Fuchtel said that Germany wants to give Serbia a chance in the European Union and concluded that the friendly relations between the two countries are a good basis for further cooperation.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Veroljub Arsic emphasised the importance of meetings like this one where the MPs have the opportunity to hear about important experiences in the field of finance and thanked Germany for the support and assistance it provides to Serbia.

Auditor General Radoslav Sretenovic spoke about the cooperation between the State Audit Institution and the National Assembly. He opined that 2016, as the year of the talks on chapter 32, will be very important for the State Audit Institution which, he said, was ready to begin negotiations.