The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia was the host of the Second Inter-Parliamentary Meeting National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia-European Parliament, held at the National Assembly House between 24 and 26 November 2008.

The first working session of the Second Inter-parliamentary meeting was held on 25 November in the National Assembly’s Small Plenary Hall, and it was chaired by the Chairman of the National Assembly European Integrations Committee, Laslo Varga and the Chairwoman of the EP Delegation for Relations with Southeastern-European Countries, Doris Pack.

At the beginning of the Second Inter-parliamentary meeting, following the opening address of the European Integrations Committee Chairman, Laslo Varga, the EP Delegation Chairwoman, Doris Pack, stressed that the European Parliament supports the accession of all Western Balkan countries to the European Union, reminding those present that it is possible for Serbia to gain the status of candidate for EU membership in 2009, if it fulfills the conditions set, above all if it establishes full cooperation with the Tribunal.

The Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Belgrade, Josep Lloveras, estimated that there is no excuse for the tardiness of Serbia’s European integration process, repeating that the European Union did not set any new conditions on Serbia.

The Director of the European Integration Office, Milica Delevic deemed that the Serbian authorities have a lot of work to do to fulfill the conditions for gaining the status of membership candidate, adding that, in addition to cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, the parliament passing laws more efficiently is of key importance for speeding up the European integration process.

The representatives of the European Parliament and the National Assembly delegation both expressed their dedication to Serbia’s speedy accession to the European Union.

The participants in the meeting repeated that the EU supports the accession of all Western Balkan countries into the Union. Reiterating that this year has been particularly delicate for Serbia, above all because of the unilateral declaration of Kosovo-Metohija independence and that independence being acknowledged by certain countries, the European parliamentarians called upon the Belgrade authorities to act constructively, in light of a European future, regional stability and good-neighbourly relations.

The improvement of the work of the parliament, protection of national minority rights, judiciary reform, combating corruption and organised crime were among the topics of the meeting. The deputies agreed it is important for Serbia to take more energetic strides in combating organised crime, wide-spread corruption, and speed up judiciary reform.

After the second work session of the Second Inter-parliamentary meeting was completed, on Wednesday, 26 November, a Joint Statement of the Heads of the National Assembly and the European Parliament Delegations was adopted.

At the end of the two-day proceedings, the Chairman, Laslo Varga stated that this meeting is one of the two most important events in the area of European integration this year, naming the ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement at the National Assembly as the first event.