In the first official meeting between the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marina Ragus, and the Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Charlotte Sammelin, at the National Assembly House, the officials discussed the geopolitical positions of the Republic of Serbia, current political issues in the country and Sweden's support for the European integration of the Western Balkan countries.
The Committee Chairperson highlighted a large number of areas in which Serbia and Sweden could raise cooperation to a higher level, from cooperation in the development of high and modern technologies, to the expansion of the development of biotechnology and artificial intelligence.
She stressed that at the beginning of her mandate, Speaker Ana Brnabic ranked the importance and strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy very highly, and MPs use every opportunity to meet with diplomatic officials. She pointed out the interest in strengthening ties between the Swedish and Serbian parliaments, in the form of exchange of visits at the committee level, and expressed hope that Swedish colleagues would respond positively to these efforts. She added that the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee will host the Central European Initiative.
Ragus stressed that Serbia's goal is to strengthen its position as a factor of peace and stability in the region and that it is working tirelessly to establish that position. She emphasised that Serbia, in addition to having traditionally good relations with the Kingdom of Sweden, is particularly counting on its support in the matter of European integration.
Ragus also talked about the extremely difficult situation of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and the violation of their human rights to the extent that even their freedom of movement is often threatened, all because of the extremism of Albin Kurti. She reiterated that all the requirements within the framework of the Brussels Agreement have been met by Belgrade, while the only condition set for the Pristina side has not been met for a full 11 years, i.e. the establishment of a community of municipalities with a Serb majority, and that it is evident that Kurti's goal is ethnic cleansing.
Charlotte Sammelin agreed with the Committee Chairperson that the solution to the large number of incidents in Kosovo-Metohija is the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities and added that the European Union also wants the countries of the Western Balkans in its community. She gave full support to the further process of Serbia’s European integration and expressed confidence in the fulfilment of all conditions of the Republic of Serbia in this process by the end of 2026.
The meeting also addressed other topics, such as the economic growth in the Republic of Serbia, legal regulations that will be discussed at the extraordinary session of the National Assembly, sustainable development, efforts to maintain peace at both the regional and global levels, reforms that Serbia is implementing, as well as the spread of democratic postulates in both countries.