The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic is taking part in the conference “Europe of the Carpathians” hosted by the Polish Sejm within the 27th Economic Forum, in Krynica Zdroj, Poland, 5-7 September 2017.
Deputy Speaker Marinkovic is taking part in the first panel entitled “How to fix the EU?” The Marshal of the Polish Sejm Marek Kuchciński, President of the Czech Chamber of Deputies Jan Hamácek, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy, and the Chairman of the Hungarian Parliament’s Committee on European Affairs Richárd Hörcsik took part in the panel.
The key topics of discussion were solidarity in the EU and security in Europe, so-called two-speed Europe, EU integration borders (geographic, structural and economic), cooperation within the EU and how to protect national interests in the EU.
Deputy Speaker Marinkovic said that in view of the EU’s achievements such as long-term peace and stability, economic growth, common market, European monetary union and enlargement, its survival is not an issue, the issue is how to improve it. The Union’s crisis management framework needs to be adjusted to the current challenges. That is why it is now more than ever vital to discuss potential solutions and reach a broad consensus on all outstanding issues. As a candidate country the Republic of Serbia plays a constructive role in resolving the issues the EU is faced with and urges for a joint, comprehensive and common approach to all of them through dialogue and cooperation as that is the only way to overcome the problems and create a secure future for all the citizens of Europe.
Deputy Speaker Marinkovic also emphasized the key position the parliament has in democratic societies and its pivotal role in promoting and maintaining international peace and security through interparliamentary dialogue.
The conference is attended by the heads and members of the parliaments of Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, representatives of EU institutions and the academic community, state institutions and NGOs. The participants of the panel agreed that deeper political and economic integration within the European Union and strengthening EU institutions are the best way to tackle the existing challenges.
