The officials continued to exchange views and opinions on the topics which dominated day one – independent judiciary and media freedom. They also focused on the funding of political parties and the different models used in the EU members states, as well as national minority rights, realization of the Chapter 23 action plan, especially in the part concerning anti-discrimination and strengthening the capacities of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. The parliamentarians also discussed defence and security, stance on Russia, stability in the Balkans as vital for stability in the EU, the migrant crisis and reliability of Serbia as a partner in suppressing irregular migration, operation of the National Assembly and parliamentary debate, financial consolidation and reducing the budget deficit, capital expenses and economic growth rate in the country, use of EU pre-accession funds, need to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo-Metohija, regional and rural development.

After the discussion the delegations adopted the Declaration and Recommendations of the seventh SAPC meeting, in which they welcomed bringing the total number of negotiations Chapters opened to 12 and called on Council and Commission to support opening of the technically prepared chapters and recalled that Serbia's progress under rule of law chapters 23 and 24 and in the process of normalisation of relations under chapter 35 remain essential for the overall pace of the negotiating process.

SAPC seventh meeting co-chair Eduard Kukan said that Serbia should use the coming Bulgarian, Austrian and Romanian presidency of the EU Council to accelerate its accession process since the enlargement policy would then be very much on the agenda.

Head of the National Assembly delegation Dr Vladimir Orlic said that the European Parliament and Serbia had once again affirmed their support for the reform processes and Serbia’s European path. He was pleased that the SAPC seventh meeting was conducted in an open and friendly atmosphere where the parliamentarians exchanged opinions on all topics of interest fop Serbia’s European integration.

The next, eight meeting of the European Union-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee will be held on 4-5 July 2018 in Strasbourg.

Click here to watch the press conference of the co-chairs of the SAPC seventh meeting.