Today, before all of you, and especially before the representatives of the civil sector, I can say that the National Assembly has seriously contributed to making Serbia a more regulated state, recognised in the region for its anti-corruption efforts. That is why I rightfully expect that we shall be granted a start date for talks on EU accession, thus achieving our goal which will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing social reform and make the lives of all of our citizens better.

I would like to stress that the new parliamentary legislature has passed a great many laws aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable categories. Unfortunately, the Roma are one of the most vulnerable categories in our society. That is why we need to continue working on creating suitable education, housing, healthcare and employment conditions to integrate the members of this community into our society.

Today, any person without documents in Serbia can resolve this problem using extra-judicial procedures. Today, we are discussing a Law guaranteeing a European level of patients’ rights and are about to amend the Criminal Procedure Code. These laws do not affect Roma alone but are the prerequisite for an improvement of the Roma’s lives, reduction of their poverty and increased employment.

Serbia’s progress to Europe is unstoppable. The assistance of European Union countries and funds we are using in the accession process, and I am sure also in the negotiations process, will significantly improve the lives of all the citizens. That is why Serbia needs to create better mechanisms for a more efficient utilization of the funds at its disposal, where Roma integration and achievement of the Roma Decade goals are definitely an area which needs more investments from all funding sources - meaning both the IPA and other European Union funds.

However, it is clear that financial aid alone or declarative efforts for better living conditions for underprivileged population categories will not improve their position. First and foremost, our society needs to accept the reform it is going through not just as a condition for our European integration, but also as a way to overcome the financial and social crisis we have been in for years. That is why it is important to achieve social unity where, as far as the National Assembly is concerned, open and transparent work, with the opportunity to discuss all issues of interest for the citizens of Serbia at this House, would make it possible to reach efficient and sustainable solutions.

I wish you successful work, secure in my belief that cooperation with the representatives of the Roma community and the civil sector will improve in the future.

Thank you!