The representatives of the ruling coalition in the German Parliament, headed by Andreas Schockenhoff, Deputy Head of the Christian Democracy Union parliamentary group, stressed that the Bundestag has a special group dealing with the integration of Western Balkan countries into the European Union and that their visit is a way to gain some knowledge about the situation in Serbia and its efforts toward European Union accession. Mr. Schockenhoff deemed that Serbia’s accession to the European Union is in Germany’s interest, adding that before the decision on the next stage of Serbia’s accession is made, Bundestag will make a decision of its own. He was pleased to note that the change of government and the new Assembly majority have not altered Serbia’s political priorities as regards its accession to the European Union. Mr. Schockenhoff assured his host that the German Parliament is fully opened toward Serbia and relayed the expectations that the clear actions Serbia has to undertake to commence the negotiations process will be undertaken in the upcoming period so that the Bundestag could give the green light to the next stage of negotiations.

The representatives of the Christian Democracy Union are also interested in a closer cooperation with the Serbian Parliament on issues not related to the European Union, they want close contacts with the Serbian MPs and, according to Andreas Schockenhoff, with the help of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, they are ready to raise the cooperation between the two parliaments to a higher level.

National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic thanked the German parliamentary group’s representatives for their support, deeming that the relations between Serbia and Germany have entered a new era and hoping that, in the upcoming period, it would also become visible in the cooperation between the two parliaments. We are aware of the role Germany and its Parliament have in the European Union and are very interested in furthering parliamentary cooperation in all spheres, said Assembly Speaker Stefanovic briefing the guests on the priorities he believes will speed up and improve the processes toward the European Union in the Parliament. He highlighted the importance of the work of the parliamentary committees for the control of the executive as well as the efforts of the Parliament itself to be more transparent and closer to the public. As far as meeting the conditions that would lead toward the next stage of relations with the European Union is concerned, Speaker Stefanovic highlighted a series of laws soon to find their way before the Assembly and related to the fight against corruption and improvement of the functioning of the judiciary in Serbia. However, he also stressed that, despite the urgency and need for a speedy regulation of certain spheres, he insists that each piece of proposed legislation undergo the appropriate procedure and debate which would involve the public at large and on which the relevant assembly committees will give their opinion.

It was jointly noted that exchanging visits of parliamentary delegations would help transfer some of Bundestag’s experience to the Serbian MPs, particularly those who have entered the Parliament for the first time.