The European Parliamentary Week gathered national Parliamentarians from the European Union, candidate and observers countries, as well as Members of the European Parliament to discuss economic, budgetary and social matters.

The participants of this high-level event were addressed by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Szymon Holownia, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, and Mario Draghi, former Prime Minister of the Italian Republic and former President of the European Central Bank.

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs had a meeting on day one of the event. Speaking at the panel on “The Future of Banking Union and Capital Markets Union”, Dr Aleksandra Tomic stressed that Europe is facing the challenges of the global geopolitical situation, economic uncertainty, accelerated digitalisation and changes in the structure of global financial markets, which points to the need to further strengthen the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union. She added that these two areas are crucial for the economic stability and growth of the European Union, as well as for the further integration of countries on the path to membership. She said that though the Banking Union is a project that began with the aim of making the European banking sector more resilient to crisis situations, as a response to the financial crisis that hit Europe several decades ago, its advantages are becoming increasingly more obvious. In the future, however, it is necessary to improve this union in order to respond to new challenges. The National Bank of Serbia and the Securities Commission have already drawn up plans for similar scenarios that may occur in the future. Speaking about the Capital Markets Union, she said that for countries like ours, which aspire to become EU members, the Capital Markets Union offers an opportunity to accelerate economic reforms, create a favourable business environment, and increase the confidence of international investors.

Tomic emphasised that Serbia has achieved results, guided by these principles, and last year was the second fastest growing economy in Europe. Last year the European Commission approved Serbia’s Reform Agenda for four areas with 98 measures, with a projected budget of 1.6 billion euros for the region until 2027. She concluded that the future of the Banking Union and the Capital Markets Union in Europe depends on our joint efforts to create stable, transparent and competitive economic frameworks that will enable growth and development. She expressed hope that Serbia will be able to contribute to this process in the future as a full member of the European Union.

In his address on the topic "Creating an ecosystem for European investments", Miroslav Petrasinovic emphasised that Europe is our partner and our goal. He stressed that, in order to create the right ecosystem for European investments, we must be aware of several key factors. He mentioned the stability and predictability of the legislative framework, and added that investors are looking for a secure environment in which they can plan and make long-term decisions. He mentioned the development of infrastructure, and emphasized that European investments often follow good infrastructure projects and that road, rail, energy and digital infrastructure must be a priority. He also added the development of education and innovation, and emphasised that investments in the education system and the development of new technologies are key components for attracting European investments and that a quality workforce, ready to deal with the challenges of digitalisation and industry, is becoming one of the most important factors that attract foreign investors. He also emphasised that we must do everything to ensure that our development policy is in line with European green plans. He also added that the creation of a favourable business environment, in which the business sector feels safe and the rules of the game do not change from month to month, brings investments. He said that he believes that Serbia is on the right path and that our commitment to European integration must not stop under any circumstances.

Day two saw the Plenary Session of the European Parliamentarism Week. In his address on the topic "Improvement of EU’s competitiveness through the single market, innovation policies, better regulation and quality jobs", Miroslav Petrasinovic emphasised that the European Union, as one of the largest common spaces in the world, must remain competitive in a rapidly changing global environment. He stated that Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vucic, has been proving for years that it is a reliable partner of the European Union in this process and that through strong reforms, attracting investment, developing innovations and investing in infrastructure, it has shown that it can be part of a stronger and more competitive Europe. He emphasized that the single market is the foundation of European integration and that this is precisely where its strength lies.

Petrasinovic emphasised that Serbia has proven that it can be an economic driver of the region, and cited the regional initiative Open Balkans as an example of how economic barriers can be removed and how a free market can bring direct benefits to citizens and the economy. He said that Serbia, as a candidate country for membership, strongly supports all initiatives and joint European projects, and that it will continue with reforms and the creation of a strong economy, that it will continue to support innovations and new technologies, because this is the path that Serbia is taking into the future, the future of a modern, successful and developed Europe.

In her address on the topic "The first national plans under the revised Economic Governance Framework - lessons learned", Dr Aleksandra Tomic said that economic crises, pandemics and climate change have shown that it is necessary for European countries to cooperate more closely and coordinate their economic policies in order to adequately respond to these challenges. She explained that the Revised Framework helps to create a new green, digital, inclusive and resilient Europe. The Economic Governance Framework is an important step towards greater unification of economic policies in Europe and it allows for greater flexibility in managing economies, but it also requires the responsibility of all Member States, in order to ensure stable and sustainable development. She added that Serbia, as a candidate for membership in the European Union, is actively working on the digital and ecological transition in order to contribute to the strengthening of the European economic space. She also emphasised that for the first time, in the 2025 budget, Serbia has a precisely defined "green budget" with 64 projects worth one billion euros. She stressed that Serbia sees membership in the European Union as a key step towards improving the lives of its citizens, and that the goal is to continue economic reforms by contributing to a stronger, more competitive and sustainable economy. She concluded that in the future, Serbia will work to ensure stable growth and a better life for all our citizens, with European values as its foundation.