The meeting was opened by Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic, Regional Network Chair, who emphasised the importance of establishing a regional network among the Western Balkan countries and fostering cooperation in the spheres of economy and European integration.
The Chairman of the Macedonian Assembly’s European Affairs Committee, Hajrulla Misini briefed the National Assembly delegation on the Committee’s work and scope, at the same time reaffirming Macedonia’s readiness to develop positive relations in the region and strengthen the two countries’ bilateral cooperation.
The meeting also touched on the role the parliament plays in supervising public spending and the need to monitor the spending of IPA funds. The members of the Macedonian delegation gave some specific recommendations about the oversight debate on the use of IPA funds conducted in Macedonia and offered to share their experience in the matter. They also suggested clearly defining the priorities of the IPA process so as to simplify withdrawing finances from the funds intended for the countries in the region.
In the course of the meeting, the participants exchanged the two parliaments’ experience relating to the control over the executive and the role of independent state institutions and their reports.
The meeting was attended by members of the Committee on the Economy, Regional Development, Trade, Tourism and Energy, Committee on Finance, State Budget and Control of Public Spending and the European Integration Committee Radojko Obradovic, Dr Milorad Mijatovic, Slavica Savic and Karolj Cizik.
The work of the Regional Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of the Western Balkans, established in 2009, is conducted with the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy the representatives of which also attended the meeting.