European Members of Parliament Visit the National Assembly: Talks on Serbia’s Progress in the EU Accession Process

A delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) met, as well as with representatives of opposition parliamentary groups, followed by representatives of the ruling coalition.

On the day before the MEPs’ visit, it was announced at a session of the National Assembly of Serbia that the guests from the European Parliament had asked their hosts to be escorted to the meeting room via side corridors.

The Speaker of the Parliament, Ana Brnabic, said it was a great disgrace that the delegation of the European Parliament coming to Belgrade wanted to avoid the exhibition dedicated to the victims of the Jasenovac genocide, which is displayed in the lobby of the Serbian Parliament.

Brnabic, who is on an official visit to Estonia, said that the National Assembly of Serbia received an official letter requesting that the EP delegation not pass through the central hall where the exhibition dedicated to the victims of the Jasenovac genocide is set up, due to, as stated in the letter, the sentiments of certain MEPs.

Serbian officials have previously pointed out that members of the European Parliament delegation are coming uninvited, as they did not coordinate the date of the visit with state institutions, thereby showing a lack of respect toward Serbia.

Vucic Will Not Meet with the Delegation

President Aleksandar Vucic previously stated that he would not meet with the delegation, as he would be in Davos during that period, where he would be meeting with, as he said, “much more important people for Serbia.” He also said that he does not wish to meet with those who wish Serbia the worst, such as Tonino Picula and others like him.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Elvira Kovac said that, in her capacity as Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chair of the Committee on European Integration, she would receive the EP delegation. She added that it had been announced that the MEPs want to discuss reforms, the pace at which they are being adopted, and how they are being implemented, noting that most questions would relate to EP resolutions from May and October of last year, as well as reports of the European Commission.

Kovac stated that she would explain which reforms the parliament has adopted in the past period, why certain challenges existed, and that she would, as she said, answer questions directly. As previously announced by the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, during the visit the delegation will also meet with representatives of the media, civil society organizations, think tanks, the academic community, and students.

Members of the European Parliament will discuss Serbia’s progress in the EU accession process and additional reforms needed to improve the process, the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs previously announced.

The delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs will be led by Marta Temido (S&D) from Portugal. In addition to Temido, the delegation will include EPP representative Rasa Jukneviciene (Lithuania); Reinhold Lopatka (Austria); Davor Ivo Stier (Croatia), head of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Pristina; Social Democrat Tonino Picula (Croatia), rapporteur of the European Parliament for Serbia; Șerban Dimitrie Sturdza (Romania, ECR); Helmut Brandstatter (Austria, Renew Europe); Vladimir Prebilic (Slovenia, Greens); and Petr Bystron (Germany, ESN)

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