National Assembly Speaker Meets with Head of EU Delegation to Serbia

National Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic said that Serbia is ready to continue with its full cooperation with the EU, its institutions and member states, as well as to work intensively on promoting and accelerating the negotiation process, as EU membership is our country's foreign policy priority and strategic commitment.

The officials discussed the positive results of the current National Assembly legislature such as the successful implementation of measures agreed during the inter-party dialogue in cooperation with co-facilitators from the European Parliament, participation of all the political forces in the recent boycott-free elections, improvement of electoral conditions, judiciary and constitutional reform achieved through cooperation with the Venice Commission. The Assembly Speaker expressed hope that the cooperation with the Venice Commission would be continued in case of future reforms.

Responding to the questions of the Head of EU Delegation Emanuele Giaufret, National Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic informed him about the legal deadlines for convening the next parliament and forming other state bodies. Ambassador Giaufret pointed out that the EU Delegation in Belgrade is a partner to the Serbian Parliament and that he hopes they would continue with the constructive cooperation.

Ambassador Giaufret thanked the outgoing Assembly Speaker for playing mediator, along with members of the European Parliament, in the inter-party dialogue, praising the fact that all key political actors took part in the election process. The report of the Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights will make new recommendations how to further strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in Serbia. He stressed that the EU expects the formation of a new assembly and a new government with a strong mandate to introduce the reforms necessary for making progress on the path to EU membership. "In the light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, it is important that Serbia continues to harmonise its policies with the EU, the area of the common foreign and security policy included", said Ambassador Giaufret.