As part of a UNDP programme aimed at capacity building for selected Assembly Committees, the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence organised the second seminar devoted to improving activities of five Committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia dealing with the issue of poverty in Serbia, namely the Poverty Reduction Committee, the Committee on Labour, Ex-Servicemen’s and Social Issues, the Education Committee, the Local Self-Government Committee, and the Agriculture Committee.

The seminar, entitled ‘Role of education in reducing poverty’, was held from 22 to 24 September 2004 in Soko Banja.

The seminar touched on a large number of issues from the field, including current reforms to the education system; ties to the employment service; education for risk groups; issues of accessibility of education in rural areas; decentralisation; the role of education in EU integration; and contribution made by social policy to reducing poverty in Serbia.

Lectures on the issues were held by Professors of the Faculty of Philosophy, officials of the appropriate Serbian Government Ministries, as well as other experts from the field.

The seminar was also attended by deputies, Committee members, and officials of the National Assembly Support Service.