Among other things, the MEPs spoke about Serbia’s significant progress and huge steps forward in the EU accession talks, regional cooperation and the last round of negotiations and agreements achieved in the dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

The members of the informal EP group “Friends of Serbia” appealed to the Council of the European Union and the member countries to open the first negotiation chapters with Serbia by the end of the year, since there is no obligation the Serbian Government and institutions had not fulfilled. They were sure that the next meeting of the joint parliamentary committee in Belgrade in March, would seriously focus on topics of importance for the opened EU accession negotiation chapters.

The members of the two parliaments focused on the refugee crisis troubling Serbia, EU member countries and other neighbouring countries. They reaffirmed that the only possible solution to it has to be a common one and that all the countries struck by the crisis need to work together to resolve the issue. They concluded that Serbia, its authorities and citizens have dealt with the crisis in a very humane and responsible manner, respecting human rights and securing the best possible conditions for the refugees from war-torn areas. They are sure a common solution would be found to this and any future problems.

The National Assembly delegation to the European Union-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee is attending the debate on the current situation in the European Union at the EP plenary session with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, after which the fourth meeting of the European Union-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee will officially begin.