National Assembly COSAC Plenary Sends Message of Support for Enlargement Policy

COSAC Plenary Sends Message of Support for Enlargement Policy

December 9, 2017

National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details

28 November 2017 The MPs at the 58th plenary meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC)

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

COSAC Plenary Sends Message of Support for Enlargement Policy

European Integration Committee Deputy Chairperson Elvira Kovacs and Committee members Zvonimir Djokic and Vladimir Djuric took part in the 58th plenary meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union – COSAC in Tallinn, 17 and 28 November, under the auspices of the Estonian presidency of the European Union Council.

Speaking about the digital single market and e-services, the participants pointed out that digitalization of the public sector goes beyond providing on-line services, it lies in the overall simplification of procedures for the citizens, from establishment of companies and paying taxes, to electronic voting. The parliamentarians also discussed the security aspects of eGovernment and emphasized the need to draft European digital strategy. European Integration Committee member Vladimir Djuric said that Serbia, as a candidate country, invests enormous efforts into digitalization by setting up a special office for information technology and development of e-services, and its National Assembly has an electronic voting system, paperless sessions and electronic document management. Djuric said that digitalization enhances the democratic processes and contributes to the efficiency of public administration, but also has challenges of its own which require comprehensive and optimal solutions. He informed the attending that the national IT industry, with experts educated in the country, is experiencing an over 25% annual growth, is pro-export oriented, well-respected on many EU markets, and undoubtedly contributes to the creation of a society grounded in knowledge and skills.Speaking of security in the EU, refugee crisis management and illegal migrations, the parliamentarians restated the need to preserve European values and ideas, the Schengen system and security of Europe and its citizens. The member states mostly agreed that it is important to show solidarity and provide efficient humanitarian and financial assistance at the most vulnerable points, work on solving the cause of the crisis, boost control at the outer borders of the European Union and ensure the security of its citizens. Committee Deputy Chairperson Elvira Kovacs said that Serbia had from the onset of the migrant crisis faced challenges too big to handle on its own, but had invested enormous efforts to ensure adequate living and temporary stay conditions for all the refugees and migrants on its territory. She reminded the assembly that illegal migration remains a big challenge on the closed Western Balkan route and Serbia has done all in its power to combat them efficiently. Kovacs said that coordination and cooperation in the fight against illegal migration needs to be improved, as should the application of common solutions to the refugee crisis, and the EU needs to secure more financial aid for the candidate countries which are a much needed and reliable partner in all common challenges on the outer borders.

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