A delegation of the European Integrations Committee comprising Gordana Comic and Jelena Trivan met at the National Assembly House with a delegation of the fraction Bundnis 90/Green Party of the SR Germany Hesse Province Assembly headed by deputy Kordula Schulz-Asche.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic informed the guests that the current National Assembly convocation was fully dedicated to democratising and modernising Serbia and harmonising its legal system with the European Union legal legacy. She stated that since June 2008 the National Assembly had adopted over 400 laws and other regulations.

Deputy Speaker Comic expressed belief that these efforts would be appreciated and positively evaluated by the EU and that prompt the beginning of the ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in June and Serbia’s accession to the EU. She stressed that Serbia expects Germany’s support as one of the most important EU countries.

Gordana Comic stated that the global economic crisis has had an impact on the economic situation in Serbia evidenced by the fact that the unemployment rate has risen to 17.5% this year, 10% of the population lives below the poverty line which in turn causes increased social and economic tension. But despite of it Serbia does not give up on reform, social democratisation and strengthening parliamentary democracy.

Highlighting that they are a pro-European party of regional and cultural identity, fraction Bundnis 90/Green Party parliamentarians of the Hesse Federal Province were interested in the situation in the sphere of human and minority rights in Serbia. They emphasised that all countries joining the EU must meet the conditions and criteria all the other member states are held up to.

Jelena Trivan said that Serbia has met European standards in all areas and done more than some of the neighbouring countries which already are EU members. She briefed the guests on the judiciary reform and the results achieved in the fight against organised crime.

Comic and Trivan stated that the resolution of the Kosovo-Metohija issue, regionalisation and decentralisation and overcoming the difficult economic situation are Serbia’s priorities at the moment.