At the sitting held on 15 October, the members of the European Integrations Committee were presented the European Commission’s 2009 Report on Serbia’s progress in fulfilling the conditions of accession to the European Union. The Report was presented by the Head of the European Commission Delegation in Serbia, H.E. Ambassador Vincent Degert.

He stated that Serbia had made significant progress in the past year, confirming the Parliament and Government’s firm commitment to European integration. Serbia achieved progress in legislative work, cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, not to mention the unilateral implementation of the trade agreement with the EU. Therefore the European Commission shall recommend that the EU Council of Ministers allow the full implementation of the Transitional Trade Agreement with Serbia and take the appropriate steps towards achieving it. After the expert review is completed, the Commission shall recommend that the EU Council of Ministers abolish visas for Serbian citizens’ travels to EU countries from 1 January 2010.

Talking about the next steps Serbia should take on its road to the EU, Degert said that they primarily mean economic reform and reform of state institutions. The economic reform means privatisation of public companies and passing a strategy in the field of industry which should increase its competitiveness, while the reform of public administration should ensure its greater efficiency and functionality.

The Head of the EC Delegation in Serbia made certain suggestions concerning the National Assembly’s work. He confirmed the importance of drafting quality laws, but also said that the emphasis should not be only on passing quality regulations, but on their implementation as well.

Ambassador Degert pointed out that the EC Report estimated the issue of political control over a deputy’s term of office as disputable and called attention to the fact that blank resignations for deputies do not adhere to European standards. He also pointed out that the judiciary reform is not complete, and that the constitutional obligation to pass the Statute of Vojvodina has been neglected.

Ambassador Degert stressed that, after the positive outcome of the Irish referendum, the European Union is committed to further expansion, which should facilitate the accession of Western Balkan countries. The European Commission is ready to support Serbia’s efforts to join the EU not only technically, but financially as well, and he believes that the completion of cooperation with The Hague Tribunal would speed up Serbia’s accession to the European Union.

The Committee members estimated that this has been the best European Commission Report on Serbia so far and the fact that the National Assembly’s work had received positive marks is encouraging.

The sitting was chaired by Laszlo Varga, Committee Chairman.