The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia , Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic talked to the Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia, Vincent Degert and the Head of the Delegation’s political Section Thomas Gnocchi about the progress of Serbia’s legislative reform.

The Delegation Head expressed pleasure at the level of cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia, reflected in the completion of the visa liberalisation process that would enable Serbian citizens to travel into the Schengen countries without visas. Degert expressed hope that soon, a consensus would be reached regarding the unfreezing of the implementation of the Transitional Trade Agreement. He pointed out that Serbia has achieved progress in legislative reform, but that it is necessary to strengthen the mechanisms that would guarantee adequate implementation of the regulations. Degert added that a thorough reform of public administration, as well as the judiciary is an important step in bringing Serbia closer to the European Union. The Delegation Head pointed out that European Union offers support in two directions – towards the realisation of key infrastructural projects in the spheres of energy production, environmental protection and transport, as well as towards strengthening and modernising institutional capacities.

The National Assembly Speaker thanked the European Commission Delegation on its support and cooperation, expressing belief that these relations would continue and progress in the future. She stressed that in the process of fulfilling the conditions delineated in the “Roadmap”, the Parliament worked intensively on harmonising national legislation with European Union legislation. The fact that the current convocation of the National Assembly has so far adopted 222 laws and 70 decisions is evidence of it, she said, adding that this dynamic would continue. She highlighted the importance developing the Parliament’s surveillance role and pointed out that the conditions are right to extend cooperation with the European Parliament.

The National Assembly Speaker informed the Head of the European Commission Delegation on the course of the adoption of AP Vojvodina Statute, the potential for improvement of election legislation and deemed it necessary to adopt the National Assembly Act which would provide the basis for better quality and efficiency of the Parliament’s operation.