The sitting was convened at the initiative of National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic, and was attended by Minister of Education Prof. Dr Dejan Vuk Stankovic, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, representatives of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, as well as the rectors of state universities in Serbia, namely: Prof. Dr Vladan Djokic, Rector of the University of Belgrade, Prof. Dr Mirjana Nikolic, Rector of the University of Arts, Brigadier General Prof. Dr Bogdan Djorovic, Rector of the University of Defence in Belgrade, Prof. Dr Dejan Madic, Rector of the University of Novi Sad, Prof. Dr Jovan Stepanovic, Rector of the University of Nis, Prof. Dr Nebojsa Arsic, Rector of the University of Pristina, Prof. Dr Vladimir Rankovic, Rector of the University of Kragujevac, Prof. Dr Tanja Soldatovic, Rector of the State University in Novi Pazar, as well as Margareta Smiljanic, President of the Student Conference of Universities in Serbia.

Committee Chairman Prof. Dr Marko Atlagic, said that on 26 March 2026, in the late evening hours, a student of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade tragically lost her life, which is the reason for having this sitting and discussing safety at higher education institutions.

National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic stressed that the agenda of the Committee sitting is an important and significant topic, and that today, the situation at our state universities and faculties should be discussed with due attention, as well as the rights of students and their safety. Speaking of the Statute of the University of Belgrade and the laws regulating the field of education, she noted that no one can be above the Constitution and the law, and expressed the expectation that, in compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Serbia, the issues of student safety will be regulated, so that such tragic events do not happen again. Brnabic recalled that, also at her initiative, in January 2025, a sitting of this Committee was held regarding the faculty blockades and the protection of student rights, at which the responsibility of university rectors and faculty deans was discussed, with a focus on the organization of regular classes at the faculties, the use of higher education institutions' premises for the educational process, and concern for student safety. She expressed regret that today we must once again discuss the care of students, respect for the law, and the safety of the faculties, and called on all colleagues and guests not to politicise this situation, adding that the autonomy of universities, especially the University of Belgrade, which has existed for more than 200 years, will be respected.

Minister of Education Prof. Dr Dejan Vuk Stankovic said that the tragedy of this event sets a political narrative, that is, the functioning of the rule of law. The death of an innocent girl requires the establishment of facts and responsibility, because this is the tip of the iceberg of what happened during the university crisis in Serbia, said the Minister of Education. He also said that the university is part of the legal system, according to which responsibility is legally defined and that it is up to the competent authorities to establish actual responsibility. He reminded that the state of blockades has been transformed into a state of functional normality, which he assessed as a positive achievement of the university and the state. The Minister emphasised that the Ministry of Education will act in accordance with its competence, once the competent authorities have completed their work, and order an extraordinary inspection and make recommendations to the Faculty of Philosophy for further action.

In the ensuing debate, in which representatives of the executive branch and rectors of universities in Serbia answered questions from members of parliament, condolences were expressed on the death of the girl at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, which requires an investigation and justice. The Rector of the University of Belgrade, Prof. Dr Vladan Djokic, said that after the tragic event, the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade is fully cooperating with the competent authorities, and that it is in the interest of all employees at this faculty to shed light on the case in an objective, professional and transparent manner. He assessed that the University is not being treated as a partner, but as a problem, and now as an adversary, that it is suffering from various types of pressure, which the University does not accept, because it is one of the pillars of the state, and that it stands by its students, just as students stand by theirs by the University. He used this opportunity to call on the competent institutions to impartially do their job in order to establish the facts and achieve justice. Further in the discussion, opinions were exchanged on whether this tragic event was being politicised, whether the University of Belgrade was being used for political purposes, whether the Rectorate reacted in a timely and adequate manner, whether the Rector informed the faculty management about the use of buildings and student safety, why the faculties were open after working hours, that is, after 10 pm., who takes care of the safety of students at the faculties, whether the Rector of the University of Belgrade was aware of the incident from December 2024 when a student at the Faculty of Philosophy attempted suicide. Also, questions were raised regarding the knowledge about the existence of pyrotechnic devices at the Faculty of Philosophy, the illegal gathering of students on the premises of the faculty, who and how regulates entry and exit from the faculty building, and more. The MPs called for respect for the facts regarding the tragic event, for the authorities to do their job according to the letter of the law and inform the public in a timely manner, and asked how it was possible that some media outlets had disturbed the public with their reporting, where the photos of the deceased student in the media came from and who provided them, as well as who resides in the Rectorate building and faculty buildings, and more.

After discussion, the Committee unanimously, with 10 votes in favour, adopted the Conclusion.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Prof. Dr Marko Atlagic, and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Pedja Mitrovic, Prof. Dr Djordje Pavicevic, Ana Miljanic, Zivota Starcevic, Nikola Lazic, Zdravko Mladenovic, Zeljko Rebraca, Biljana Ilic Stosic, Goran Spasojevic, Dr Slobodan Milisavljevic and Vesna Djurisic, as well as MPs Dunja Simonovic Bratic, Ana Jakovljevic, Stefan Janjic, Prof. Dr Slobodan Cvejic, Dusan Nikezic, Milica Jablanovic Marusic and Prof. Dr Zoran Dragisic, who are not members of the Committee.