The Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Trade and Tourism held a joint session on 1 August 2005 to discuss reports of the Republic Supply Reserves Directorate on litigation initiated and criminal charges filed. In addition to the deputies, the session was also attended by officials of the Ministry of Trade and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Ministry of Justice, as well as representatives of the Republic Public Attorney’s Office and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as well as by the Director of the Republic Supply Reserves Directorate, Dusan Damjanovic.

After a discussion lasting two hours, in which it was underlined that the Republic Supply Directorate had claims totalling 15,031,000,000 dinars, and that 824 court actions were in progress, the deputies adopted several conclusions.

It was concluded that court actions to recover amounts due should be accelerated; the Ministry of Justice was asked to use its powers to improve court efficiency in protracted proceedings, while the Public Attorney’s Office and Public Prosecutor’s Office were asked to play a more active role. The deputies agreed that the subject should be discussed by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia at a future session.

The joint session of the two Assembly committees concluded that the appropriate ministries should start drafting a new law to regulate supply reserves, while the Ministry of Trade and Tourism is expected to reform and transform the Republic Supply Reserves Directorate in accordance with EU legislation.