In the meeting with the members of the Committee on the Judiciary, Public Administration and Local Self-Government both sides agreed that Serbia and Sweden enjoy excellent and friendly relations and that this visit would help further their interparliamentary cooperation.
The Swedish parliamentarians stressed that their country’s Parliament and Government strive for the enlargement of the European Union and whish that Serbia, as an important country in the region, become part of the European Union as soon as possible. The purpose of their visit, they said, is to learn more about the situation in Serbia and the new Government’s programme and activities, as well as Serbia’s progress toward Euro-integration. They also expressed readiness to assist Serbia in strengthening its judiciary and expanding human rights. The Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Petar Petrovic, informed the guests on the activities of the Parliament and the Government, stressing that they strive to create a legislative framework for Serbia’s speedy accession to the European Union and that Serbia expects to be given a date for the beginning of negotiations with the EU in December. Petrovic said that, on the road to European integration, Serbia has done more than some other countries, sharing his belief that no new requirements would be placed before Serbia.
The Committee members also pointed out that the competent state authorities are implementing measures aimed at reducing the number of false asylum-seekers in European Union countries, which should prevent the possible rescinding of the visa liberalisation for Serbia. The members of the Committee stressed the need to exchange experience and examples of best practice with EU member states related to improving the legislative process and the adoption of quality laws.
They also pointed out that the National Assembly would continue the reform aimed at strengthening its control over the Government, and that the amendments to the Law on Election of MPs would strengthen the role of the MPs and National Assembly committees.
The Committee Chairman and members thanked the Swedish Government for its help in the National Assembly’s internal reform. The delegation of the Committee on the Judiciary, Public Administration and Local Self-Government comprised MPs Laszlo Varga, Nenad Konstantinovic, Srdjan Mikovic, Vuceta Toskovic and Dejan Rajcic.

The members of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality Snezana Stojanovic Plavsic, Zlata Djeric, Dubravka Filipovski and Srdjan Sajn, met today, at the National Assembly House, with a Swedish parliamentary delegation. The meeting focused on human and minority rights protection, gender equality, rights of women and children, poverty, the asylum-seekers issue and position of people with alternative sexual orientation in Serbia.
Snezana Stojanovic Plavsic briefed the Swedish parliamentarians on the Committee’s scope, stressing that in the last ten years Serbia has significantly improved its legislation in the spheres this working body deals with. She pointed out the importance of the introduction of the institution of Ombudsman which was introduced into Serbia following the Swedish model, and in particular, his deputies in charge of child rights, minority rights and gender equality.
Zlata Djeric informed the guests that, in order to improve the efficiency of the Committees’ work in the current legislature, five working groups have been formed charged with human rights and liberties, national minority issues, religions, gender equality issues, and dealing with civic proposals and initiatives.
Speaking about the rights of children in Serbia, Dubravka Filipovski stressed that Serbia has successfully introduced inclusive education in schools and the Assembly’s Committee on the Rights of the Child enjoys intensive cooperation with the UNICEF. She highlighted the issue of asylum-seekers, stating that Serbia would do all in its power to reduce their number in Sweden and in EU countries. Mentioning the possible abolition of the visa-free regime, Filipovski emphasised its importance for Serbia as it is, she said, the only benefit the citizens truly feel.
Srdjan Sajn extended gratitude on the behalf of the Roma national community for the assistance provided and requested Sweden’s diplomatic support to realise the initiative to create an inert-parliamentary Roma group which would help the positioning of the Roma national community in European institutions.
Third Deputy Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Jan Ertsborn stressed that Sweden supports the legislative reform and Serbia’s progress to the European Union, urging for a continuation of the excellent cooperation with Serbian parliamentarians. He then outlined the situation in Sweden as regards civil rights and children’s rights in particular, stressing that their legislation includes the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child, which is successfully implemented, but that there is no separate law yet, there is only a law for parents.
The parliamentary meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Serbia, Bertil Christer, who spoke of the Programme for Serbia realised by Sweden in aid of various projects, particularly in the field of human rights protection. He also announced that, once Serbia is granted the date to launch negotiations for EU membership, this five-year project would be successfully continued.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Milos Aligrudic, and Committee members Natasa Vuckovic and Ljubica Vasic spoke today, at the National Assembly House, with the members of a visiting Swedish parliamentary delegation headed by the Third Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jan Ertsborn.
The Swedish parliamentarians shared their expectation that Serbia would continue its progress toward the European Union and become a full member. They highlighted their wish that Serbia kept its visa-free regime, but added that the two countries need to make a join effort to ensure a reduction in the number of asylum-seekers from the area.
Milos Aligrudic reminded of the excellent cooperation between the Serbian and Swedish parliamentarians in international institutions and organisations, saying that the cooperation between the two parliaments should be improved via parliamentary friendship groups, more frequent exchanges of delegations and other types of cooperation.
Stressing that joining the European Union is Serbia’s strategic goal, Ljubica Vasic gave a high estimate of Sweden’s support of the internal reforms.
Natasa Vuckovic pointed out the potentials for boosting cooperation between the two countries in the spheres of economy and defence and security, and declared as extremely useful Sweden’s experience in the protection of human rights and economic and social rights, as well as gender equality.
The Swedish parliamentarians also stressed their interest in strengthening and balancing trade with Serbia, as well as readiness to invest.