Presenting the Committee’s activities within the European integration process, European Integration Committee Chairman Aleksandar Senic said that what comes next, considering that the screenings for all chapters have been completed in March, is the harmonisation of the national legislation with the EU acquis.
Senic emphasised the importance of cooperation with the civil society organisations included in the membership talks. Serbia is in the EU officials’ focus of interest said Senic, which is evidenced by the recently passed recommendation of the conference at the National Assembly supporting the opening of the negotiations chapters in 2015. Speaking of Serbia’s attitude to Euro-Atlantic integration, Senic explained that, though committed to European integration, Serbia remains a military neutral country.
Portuguese Assembly’s European Affairs Committee Chairman Paulo Mota Pinto conveyed his country’s support for Serbia’s European integration, while the Portuguese delegation members had questions about the judiciary reform, media freedom, implementation of the Brussels Agreement and public opinion on European integration.
The European Integration Committee members said that Serbia has come to a broad social and political consensus on European integration and what the citizens expect most from European integration is an improvement of living standards. As regards the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, the Committee members explained that the part of the Brussels Agreement relating to the status of the Serbian community in Kosovo-Metohija is not being implemented, which is an issue that requires, they said, more willingness to cooperate from the other party.
Committee member Natasa Vuckovic pointed out the need to improve the work of independent state institutions and more progressive adjustment to the EU foreign and security policy, while Committee member Dr Aleksandra Tomic spoke of the importance of the laws recently passed by the National Assembly and the positive effects of the economic reform.
The officials agreed that the European integration process is a long one, evidenced by the experience of the member states, and that negotiations on economic issues should supersede political concerns.
The meeting was also attended by Committee members Gordana Comic, Dusica Stojkovic, Vesna Markovic and Biljana Pantic Pilja.


Talking to the Portuguese parliamentary delegation, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Aleksandra Djurovic said that Serbia’s foreign policy priorities are EU accession, regional cooperation and fostering good-neighbourly relations, as well as preserving Serbia’s territorial integrity. As regards EU accession, Aleksandra Djurovic stressed that the National Assembly has reached consensus and Serbia is working hard to expedite the negotiations process. Opening the negotiations chapters would be very important, not just Chapter 35 which concerns the normalisation of relations with Pristina, concluded Djurovic.
Portuguese Assembly’s European Affairs Committee Chairman Paulo Mota Pinto said that Portugal is in favour of EU enlargement and endorses Serbia’s European integration process. He then outlined Portugal’s experience of the process.
In the course of the meeting with the Portuguese delegation, the officials also spoke of regional cooperation and the normalisation of relations with Pristina. The National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee members emphasised Serbia’s constructive approach and commitment to the Brussels Agreement so at to ensure the stability of the region and improve the quality of life of the citizens living in Kosovo-Metohija. The officials also discussed the adjustment of Serbia’s foreign policy to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The meeting with the delegation of the Portuguese Assembly’s European Affairs Committee was attended by Committee Deputy Chairperson Dr Dijana Vukomanovic, and Committee members Irena Aleksic, Zlata Djeric, Borisav Kovacevic, Dusica Stojkovic, Dr Aleksandra Tomic and Vesna Marjanovic.