An expert mission of the European Commission dealing with human and minority rights issues is in official visit to the Republic of Serbia from 14 to 18 March. The mission aims to check the responses the Republic of Serbia gave in the process of answering to the European Commission Questionnaire in the field. As part of the mission, Benedict Hartzl, expert on minority rights protection, met with the Chairman and members of the Committee on Inter-Ethnic Relations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. Committee Chairman Miletic Mihajlovic briefed the European Commission experts on the legislation ensuring and protecting the rights and liberties of ethnic minorities in the Republic of Serbia, as well as the practice and experience gained in the direct exercise of minority rights in the Republic of Serbia. Mihajlovic presented the work of the Committee on Inter-Ethnic Relations, informing all present on the manner and types of cooperation with the national councils, competent ministries and state institutions.

In the meeting, the officials exchanged opinions on some of the answers the Republic of Serbia gave to the European Commission Questionnaire. The findings of this as well as the previous missions dealing with various spheres and topics will be used to compose a report which shall provide the preliminary basis for the European Commission’s opinion on the readiness of the Republic of Serbia to gain European Union candidate status.

In addition to the Chairman of the Committee on Inter-Ethnic Relations Miletic Mihajlovic, the meeting was attended by Vitomir Mihajlovic and Olena Papuga.