Regional conference on: the Role of Parliaments in Promoting Competitiveness and Economic Growth by Improving the Business Environment in Western Balkan Economies was held in the House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on 6 and 7 March. The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Gordana Comic hosted the conference which comprised, in addition to the delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, parliamentary delegations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM and Montenegro.

The National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Gordana Comic opened the conference. Then, the participants were addressed by the National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic who stated that inter-parliamentary cooperation between Western Balkan countries, both those who already are and who are yet to become members of the European Union, can stimulate economic development by creating a favourable business environment. Regional cooperation and drawing on neighbouring countries’ positive experiences, dialogue and mutual understanding between the countries and businessmen are an important condition for overcoming the impact of the economic crisis on Balkan countries.

The National Assembly Speaker stressed the Serbian Parliament’s intensive legislative activity in the previous period, adding that it is necessary to speed up the tempo of reform and harmonization of the legislation with that of the European Union.

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council for Southeast Europe Hido Biscevic stated that, in addition to the regional projects to be realised in the future, a joint engagement on preserving the Euro Atlantic perspective of the region is also necessary.

The participants were greeted by the head of the GTZ office in Serbia, Uwe Stumpf and IFC representative Antoine Courcelle-Labrousse.

The parliamentarians from the countries of the region discussed the improvement of legal regulations and parliamentary efficiency in passing laws influential in the creation of a positive business climate. It was said that, under the conditions of a growing financial crisis and negative consequences on economic growth and investment level, the countries in the region face great challenges in adapting market regulations so as to attract investment.

The Conference also debated the role of parliaments particularly in the improvement of the quality of legal regulation and their influence on the promotion of private investment and stimulation of economic growth. They also discussed certain issues of regional cooperation and accession to the European Union, focusing on harmonisation of the legislation and implementation of reform.

The parliamentarians from the countries of the region also discussed how to draw on the experiences of the European Parliament and the new European Union member countries in the creation and implementation of regulatory reform programmes. They also spoke of the creation of a regulatory strategy and future activities of parliamentary bodies in the area of regional cooperation.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Nikola Novakovic and deputies Natasa Vuckovic, Jorgovanka Tabakovic and Vlatko Ratkovic took part in the Conference. The participants were greeted by the National Assembly Secretary Veljko Odalovic.

The Conference was supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), member of the World Bank Group, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), as well as the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The Conference also included Thomas Mayer from the Open Regional Fund for South East Europe (GTZ), Margo Thomas from the International Finance Corporation, Claudio Radelli, professor at the University of Exeter, Scott Jacobs, Managing Director of Jacobs & Associates and Fabio Franchino, professor at the University of Milan.

Attachment: Declaration and Proceedings of the Regional Conference, as well as the GTZ/OECD regional study Improving the Process of Economic Reform Legislation in Western Balkan Countries which has contributed to the cooperation among the parliaments of the countries in the region and the adoption of the Declaration of the Regional Conference.