The European Integrations Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is an active participant in the realisation of project Meet your neighbour – European parliamentarian, launched by the European Movement in Serbia. The fact that the parliament and parliamentary diplomacy are gaining an ever more important role in the integration process and that three neighbouring countries – European Union member states have 71 European Parliament members, and the premise that they are much better informed on the situation in the Western Balkans, opens up additional potentials for cooperation on Serbia’s road to European integration.

The first panel discussion was held on 10 September 2010 on Palic, and the Second on 19 November 2010 in Nis.

The panel discussion was opened by the Vice-President of the European Movement in Serbia Tanja Miscevic, and the Mayor of Nis Milos Simonovic gave the opening address.

European parliamentarian from Bulgaria and former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin spoke about the European Parliament’s role in the EU enlargement policy and Serbia’s EU accession process. He emphasised the importance of Serbia’s inclusion in various cross-border cooperation projects with both Bulgaria and other neighbouring countries as that experience would serve it well in the later stages of EU accession.

Deputy Jelena Trivan spoke about Serbia European integration process and the role of the deputies and the National Assembly in the process. She stressed the need to intensify cooperation with the European Parliament and other EU institutions. She also pointed out the importance of furthering regional cooperation and bilateral cooperation with all the neighbouring countries, particularly those which recently acceded to the EU.

The participants agreed in the estimate that cooperation between neighbouring countries, EU member states, and Serbia is very important, as is the support of European parliamentarians from Bulgaria in Serbia’s European integration process.