On behalf of the host - the National Assembly and its Speaker Ana Brnabic, the delegations of the PABSEC member states, members of the Committee on Economic and Development Policy were addressed by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Marina Ragus. She expressed her hope that today's meeting would contribute to the economic, energy, sustainable development and future of the Black Sea region. She added that the Republic of Serbia consistently advocates for friendly relations, economic connectivity and dialogue among the PABSEC member states.

"For us, the PABSEC is more than a regional organisation; it is a symbol of partnership, a platform for cooperation and a bridge connecting peoples, economies and ideas. The BSEC region represents an area of great potential. Its economic and cultural diversity, as well as its exceptional geo-strategic position, make it one of the most important energy, transport and trade corridors. We are convinced that economic cooperation and joint development projects can be the best answer to contemporary challenges," stressed Ragus.

She emphasised that Serbia is committed to promoting mutually beneficial initiatives in the fields of energy, infrastructure, digital transformation, as well as energy resilience, while preserving the environment. New technologies are shaping our reality, and the most powerful among them is artificial intelligence, which is not only a key tool, but also a resource for the future and only if we direct it correctly can it become a driver of inclusive development in the region, concluded Ragus. She added that in Serbia, the potential of artificial intelligence has been recognised as a national priority, and that the export of IT services exceeds all others, which shows how much digital economy has become an important pillar of our growth. Speaking about parliamentary diplomacy, Ragus stated that Serbia pays great attention to this instrument of cooperation and trust-building.

"The Republic of Serbia remains firmly committed to the values of peace, dialogue, equality and respect for international law. Our approach to regional cooperation is based on partnership, inclusiveness and openness. Only through joint efforts can we create the conditions for a stable and prosperous region. Serbia remains a reliable and constructive partner in the PABSEC, a partner that fosters friendship, openness and a vision of a common future," said Ragus.

Addressing her colleagues, the Head of the National Assembly’s standing delegation to PABSEC, Jasmina Obradovic, pointed out that the National Assembly has been participating in the activities of the PABSEC with great enthusiasm for more than two decades. PABSEC plays an important role in improving the legal framework for all types of cooperation in the region, and the topic of today’s meeting is in line with the organisation's Mission, Obradovic stated. She added that it is of utmost importance that the PABSEC member states have a strategic approach to new technologies and underlined that Serbia was one of the first countries in the world to approach the issue of artificial intelligence strategically.

"Serbia welcomes the use of artificial intelligence at the global level while respecting international guidelines for its use. We are focused on the development of reliable and safe artificial intelligence, and considering that we live in challenging times, cooperation within the BSEC is duty to our citizens. We are committed to strengthening the role of the PABSEC with the desire to turn challenges into opportunities for the sake of a stable and prosperous future," concluded the Head of the National Assembly delegation to PABSEC.

PABSEC Vice-President and Head of the PABSEC Turkish Delegation, Fatih Donmez also addressed the participants with an opening speech. He emphasised that the PABSEC Committee on Economic and Development Policy plays an important role in promoting the organisation’s goals and has so far considered the most pressing issues of the modern era. He welcomed the PABSEC’s recognition of the importance of artificial intelligence and the importance of cooperation between the member states on this issue. He opined that the 21st century has brought about the dynamic development of artificial intelligence in the global economy and that it represents the latest industrial revolution that is changing the production system.

In his opening address, the Chairman of the PABSEC Committee on Economic and Development Policy, Oleksandr Marikovskyi emphasised that parliamentary diplomacy has been intensified around the world, including the BSEC region, in order to strengthen dialogue. More than ever, our cooperation brings economic benefits and builds trust through improved dialogue, said Marikovskyi, stressing that the PABSEC is shaping the "evolutionary landscape" of the region, which is gaining economic and political importance. He added that artificial intelligence has a strong transformational potential for the economies and societies of the PABSEC member states, pointing to the consequences of its further development and the risks it entails, and stressed the importance of today's dialogue on this topic and wished successful work to the delegations of the PABSEC member states.

Finally, before moving on to the working part of the meeting, PABSEC Secretary General Asaf Hajiyev emphasised that Serbia is one of the most active PABSEC member states. It is the country that gave the world Nikola Tesla, who predicted the existence of several things that we use today, including elements of artificial intelligence, said Hajiyev. He reminded that artificial intelligence is an indispensable part of our lives and that is why it is important that the PABSEC committees on culture, politics, and economic and development cooperation had debated this topic.

At the 65th meeting of the Committee on Economic and Development Policy, the PABSEC members’ national delegations debated the topic Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in the BSEC Region – Economic Aspects.