In cooperation with the Italian Institute IPALMO (Institute for the Relations between Italy and the Countries of Africa, Latin America, Middle and Far East) and the Italian Embassy in Serbia, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia organised a seminar for the deputies and employees on 14 April at the National Assembly House, on the “Rule of law and strengthening democracy in South-Eastern Europe”.

Opening the seminar, European Integrations Committee Chairman Laszlo Varga greeted the Italian guests highlighting the excellent cooperation between the National Assembly and the Italian parliament. Italian Ambassador Armando Varicchio stressed that the parliament has to be the driving force of pro-European reform in Serbia adding that Serbia’s Euro-integration plan may be ambitious, but the whole society should take part in it, not just a narrow elite.

IPALMO Institute Vice-President Silverio Ianniello said that “Serbia is moving fast toward the European Union, which must end successfully”, but he also pointed out the need to strengthen the rule of law not only in Serbia, but the whole of Balkans as well.

European Integration Office Director Milica Delevic stressed that the European Commission, which is supposed to give its opinion on Serbia’s EU candidacy in October, wishes to see what the rule of law looks like in real life which means resolving the open political issues by abiding by the existing laws and European standards, as well as implementing the adopted laws. The National Assembly should offer a real debate on the laws not push for their adoption under urgent procedure, said Milica Delevic.

The professors of the University of Rome La Sapienza Faculty of Political Science and Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences Oreste Massari and Slavisa Orlovic spoke of the types of rule, electoral systems and participation of civil society, and professors of the Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences Jovan Teokarevic and Dragan Simic spoke about democracy and democratic processes from the Balkans to the Middle East and the relationship between Serbia and Italy, international relations and international law.

The representative of the Italian Parliament’s Lower House Filippo Cinoglossi spoke of the relationship between the parliament and the new media in a modern democracy, and IPALMO Institute Vice-President Silverio Ianniello talked about legal security in international relations. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Riccardo Migliori spoke about the role of the EU and organisation of regional cooperation in instituting the rule of law in South-Eastern Europe.

In his closing address, Silverio Ianniello declared the exchange of opinions on the topics very useful and expressed hope that the successful cooperation between the National Assembly, Italian Parliament and IPALMO Institute will continue in future.