Addressing the gathering, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic emphasised the importance of parliamentary transparency and constant work on building ties between the citizens and the MPs.
“The support and engagement of all interested parties is crucial for the success of the “Week of Parliamentarism”. We see you as partners in this joint initiative and believe that we can help open a forum to discuss the quality of the democratic processes and parliamentary diplomacy”, said Deputy Speaker Marinkovic.

On the behalf of the Open Parliament, Vukosava Crnjanski said that participation in the “Week of Parliamentarism” opens the debate on what democracy means today and how the citizens can hold their elected representatives responsible.
“Building partnerships and ties with different institutions and organisations during this week, when public focus will fall on parliamentary democracy, will make the citizens’ voice be heard and establish better communication between the Parliament and the citizens”, said Crnjanski.

The Head of the Working Team for coordination of activities relating to the implementation of project Open Parliament, co-conducted by the National Assembly and CRTA, Maja Koler Zorko informed the representatives of the civil sectors how they can become official partners of the “Week of Parliamentarism”. She stressed that the guiding rule of the event is that it must be non-profit and without political connotation.

Jelena Papic of the National Assembly’s Education and Heritage Promotion Department, briefed the participants of the info-session on how different bodies such as civil society organisations, local self-governments, cultural and educational institutions, can become partners of the “Week of Parliamentarism” and organise their own events. As examples of possible activities, Papic mentioned debates, student parliament sessions, conferences, street actions.

The National Assembly’s guests at the info-session, Penny McLean and Emily Unell, members of the UK Parliament’s team that has been organising “Parliament Week” in the UK since 2011, shared their experiences, advice and suggestions for a successful organisation of events and inclusion of as many citizens as possible into the “Week of Parliamentarism” in Serbia.

All who wish to partake in the “Week of Parliamentarism” and become partners can find relevant information at www.nedeljaparlamentarizma.rs, starting from 15 June 2015.