The European heads of parliament are discussing the role and responsibilities of parliaments in the migration and refugee crisis in Europe, cooperation between national parliaments and the Council of Europe: together promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and mobilisation of parliaments against hate, for inclusive and non-racist societies.

As the keynote speaker on cooperation between national parliaments and the Council of Europe, Gojkovic said that at this moment as we face the emergence of fanaticism and hatred, affirmation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law is needed more than ever.

Gojkovic pointed out that Serbia is dedicated to building a modern society firmly grounded in the values of the Council of Europe, adding that the opening of chapters 23 and 24 again proves that Serbia is on the right path to setting up a regulated and modern state which will work in the interest and for the needs of all the citizens.

“The new legislature of the National Assembly will do its utmost to meet the high standards of developed democracies with decades long traditions”, said Gojkovic and urged for multifaceted cooperation between national parliaments and the Council of Europe in the promotion of values – development of democracy, rule of law and protection of human rights.

On the side lines of the Conference NARS Speaker Maja Gojkovic also had a bilateral meeting with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt in which they set up his visit to Serbia. Gojkovic also had numerous meetings with the heads of parliaments of the Council of Europe member states.

In addition to Speaker Maja Gojkovic, the National Assembly delegation also comprised Aleksandra Djurovic, the Head of the National Assembly’s standing delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Svetislava Bulajic, National Assembly Secretary General.

The heads of 37 national parliaments are attending the Conference which was addressed by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt and Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland.