Members of the Committee on Development and International Economic Relations opened debate in principle on the Commercial Associations Bill, to be continued at the Committee’s next session.

The Deputy Minister of Economy, Zora Simovic, presented the Bill, proposed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, which is to replace the present Companies Act, which has been in force, with minor changes, for the past ten years. According to Ms Simovic, the Bill has been modernised and is completely in harmony with European Union legislation.

Representatives of the Republic Agency for the Development of Small Enterprises and Entrepreneurship presented the Report on the agency’s activities for the period from 1 July to 30 September 2004 to members of the Committee.

The session also saw the adoption of the Report compiled by Committee members Milka Silajev and Branislav Tosic on their participation at the “Towards a Southern European energy community” international conference in Bucharest, Romania, organised on 11 and 12 October 2004 by the South-eastern Europe Co-operation Initiative and the Stability Pact for South-eastern Europe.