The National Assembly delegation included National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the European Integration Committee Elvira Kovacs and MP Dr Aleksandra Tomic. The European Parliamentary Week brought together parliamentarians from the European Union, candidate countries and observers, as well as Members of the European Parliament to discuss economic, budgetary and social issues.

In the course of the event, participants were addressed by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Annita Demetriou, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, and Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy.

On the sidelines of the event, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Kovacs met with several Members of the European Parliament - Loucas Fourlas, Co-Chair of the EU - Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, Tonino Picula, European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Serbia, Reinhold Lopatka, Davor Ivo Stier, Shadow Rapporteur for Serbia, Lorant Vincze, and Annamaria Vicsek.

On day 1, Dr Aleksandra Tomic took part in the meetings of the Committee on Budgets. In her speech on the “Focus on the next Multiannual Financial Framework: National and Regional Partnership Plans”, she informed the attendees that a Public Hearing was held last week on Bill on the Establishment and Functioning of the Cohesion Policy Management System and that the National Assembly is expected to adopt it soon. She stressed that Serbia is committed to strengthening institutional and administrative capacities for future participation in EU cohesion policies. On day 2, in her address on the topic “Fostering a Business-Friendly Europe in the context of the Next Multiannual Financial Framework: Prospects and Challenges for the Single Market”, Dr Aleksandra Tomic said that for candidate countries like Serbia, the Single Market represents both a responsibility and an opportunity, and that gradual integration into European supply chains, harmonisation of standards and regulations, as well as participation in European programmes are already contributing to the modernisation of our economy. She stressed that the gradual inclusion of the Western Balkan countries in certain mechanisms of the single market can contribute to its additional dynamics and stability, as well as expand market opportunities for all actors.