The Speaker of the National Assembly, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic convened the Third Special Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2011, for 29 March 2011, starting at 11:30 a.m. and set the following agenda:

1. The Address of Stefan Füle, Commissioner of the European Commission for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, to the National Assembly.

At the beginning of the sitting, the National Assembly Speaker welcomed European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert and delegation members, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors of several European Union member states to Serbia.

Addressing the National Assembly, the European Commissioner for Enlargement stated that the European Commission believes Serbia’s EU candidacy bid to be an opportunity to move onto the next stage of accession – gaining candidacy status, and maybe even setting the date for the beginning of negotiations. He reminded the assembly that the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement with Serbia has so far been signed by the European Parliament and two thirds of the EU member states.

Füle said that Serbia’s accession to the European family of nations is a realistic goal, within its grasp, but that certain political criteria need to be met before Serbia can gain the European Commission’s positive opinion on its candidacy.

The European Commission’s Report on Serbia’s progress to the EU contains a road map i.e. key areas where Serbia must invest additional effort and implement reform in the next few months. At this stage of the EU approach the parliament needs to employ dialogue between the political parties to reach broad political consensus on the country’s key strategic goals, stressed the European Commissioner for Enlargement.

Füle listed judiciary reform, fight against organised crime and corruption, amendment of the electoral legislation, creation of conditions conducive to an efficient operation of independent regulatory bodies, regulation of property rights and respecting human rights as priorities on the road to accession. A more efficient fight against crime and corruption necessitates a law on the financing of political parties in line with EU standards and a new anti-corruption strategy and action plan, as well as political and financial support of the institutions charged with law enforcement.

Regarding the amendment of the electoral legislation it is necessary to, first of all, abolish blank resignations and respect the order of candidates on the party electoral lists.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Füle said that “these reforms are urgent as they ensure a functioning democracy and represent what we call political criteria. Meeting the political criteria is essential for a positive opinion because each country which submits a membership request has to demonstrate that it has become a functioning democracy so that the Commission could recommend the opening of negotiation for European Union accession.”

Füle also highlighted the importance of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, regional cooperation and resolution of the issue of refugees and displaced persons. He emphasised that full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is of key importance for the European Commission’s opinion.

After the address of the Commissioner of the European Commission for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Füle, National Assembly Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic concluded the Third Special Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2011.