European Integration Committee Delegation at AFET Interparliamentary Meeting in Brussels

The meeting was thematically divided into two sessions: "EU enlargement - seizing the momentum" and "The role of parliaments in progressing EU accession".

At the first session, B. Josifovic emphasised that Serbia has fulfilled all the technical conditions required for the opening of Cluster 3 - Economy and Competitiveness. In the last five annual progress reports on Serbia, the European Commission has called on EU member states to approve the opening of this cluster for Serbia. In an effort to continue its efforts towards EU integration, Serbia has implemented additional reforms to prove its commitment to EU accession, in the area of amending the set of media laws and the process of forming a new Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, B. Josifovic said. The most complex ODIHR recommendation regarding electoral legislation has been successfully implemented, and amendments to the Law on the Unified Voters' Register were adopted in early November 2025. The law provides for the establishment of a permanent and inclusive Unified Voters' Register Revision Commission, consisting of experts nominated by the ruling majority, the parliamentary opposition and civil society. The National Assembly adopted the Gas Law at the end of last year, which has greatly contributed to the harmonisation of domestic legislation with the EU regulatory framework. When it comes to alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, Serbia reached a record high level of alignment in the fall of 2025, which continues to grow. B. Josifovic said that Serbia firmly supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and has voted accordingly in the UN General Assembly and other institutions. Serbia provides humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, which accounts for 93% of the total humanitarian assistance coming from the Western Balkans region. B. Josifovic added that the Ministry of European Integration has established a Reform and Growth Facility Monitoring Committee, with civil society as the backbone. According to the assessment of the Venice Commission, the new package of judicial laws currently on the agenda of the National Assembly fully meets the recommendations contained in its April opinion, B. Josifovic concluded his presentation.

Prof. Dr S. Cvejic said that the pro-European opposition parties do not believe that the Serbian Government has a genuine intention to make progress, and that the set of judicial laws on the Parliament's agenda is not the same as the one reviewed by the Venice Commission and that the differences are not only in the final and transitional provisions. By not resolving the consequences of the previously contested law, the provisions of this law hinder the return of temporarily assigned prosecutors to work, said Prof. Dr S. Cvejic.

During the second session, Z. Aleksic emphasised that full membership in the EU is Serbia's main goal and that the National Assembly has been working hard for years to contribute to its fulfilment. Through the work of the Commission for the Revision, Verification and Control of the Accuracy and Updating of the Voters' Register, the ODIHR recommendations have been fulfilled and the Law on the Voter List has been amended. Z. Aleksic emphasised that the media laws and laws in the energy sector have also been amended. Following the recommendations of the Venice Commission, a session is underway with a set of judicial laws for which we received a positive opinion. Z. Aleksic emphasised that Serbia is truly a part of Europe with which it shares European history, culture and values. Our connection with Europe is deep and permanent and will reach its full potential one day when we become part of the EU. Z. Aleksic concluded that Serbia has done everything necessary to open Cluster 3 in 2021. As a member of Parliament, she expressed the hope that the hard work will be recognized and that Serbia remains open to dialogue, partnership and mutual respect on the European path.

B. Josifovic attended a lunch hosted by AFET Chair David McAllister for the heads of delegations.

The meeting brought together members of AFET and delegations of the committees for European integration/European affairs of the parliaments of candidate countries from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine.