In the course of the meeting with the members of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Barbara Lochbihler stressed that the status of Roma outside of the European Union is the focus of the European Parliament’s interest, announcing that she would be submitting a report to the European Commission, after the visit to Belgrade, on the status of minorities in Serbia. The Chairman of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality, Meho Omerovic underlined that Serbia has a solid legislative and institutional human rights framework, but its implementation in practice suffers from certain problems. Despite these difficulties, the officials noted that the position of minorities in Serbia is satisfactory.

The delegation of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights also met with the members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Committee Chairman Dr Nebojsa Stefanovic stressed that the Republic of Serbia is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and freedoms. Stefanovic spoke of the children’s rights guaranteed by the Constitution, the rights of parents, special support and protection of mothers before and after delivery, protection of children without parental care and children with developmental problems, and special protection for single parents. He highlighted the Committee members’ considerable contribution to the adoption of the Law on Special Measures for the Prevention of Crimes against Sexual Freedom against Minors, adopted in April 2013. Chairman Stefanovic deemed it extremely important that the Law rescinded the statute of limitation for crimes committed against minors. The Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Barbara Lochbihler commended the adoption of the Law, stressing that Serbia was the second country to pass such a law. In the course of the meeting, Lochbihler asked about the rights of Roma children and adults to birth records and other documents, mechanisms to monitor the implementation of laws, as well as prevention and punitive measures for juvenile delinquency in Serbia. The members of the European Parliament delegation were also interested in the problem of birth dearth, position of children without parental care and the position of children in the post-war period.

The delegation of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights then met with the members of the Committee on Labour, Social Issues, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction. Committee Chairperson Milica Dronjak presented the Committee’s work and legislation relating to labour, social welfare, social policy and employment. She said that the Committee will attempt to improve the operation of trade unions, eliminate illegal employment, as well as draw foreign investment into Serbia and boost employment by amending and modifying the Labour Law. The Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Barbara Lochbihler asked about measures employed to ensure the inclusion of all social groups and to reduce unemployment. The officials discussed unemployment in Serbia, region per region, with a special focus on the Presevo valley, Sandzak, Vojvodina and the south of Serbia. The members of the delegation of the Subcommittee on Human Rights were also interested in the position of women, Roma and minority communities in Serbia as regards employment.