Session of the National Assembly continues; 40 items on the agenda

The ruling party MPs support the draft law, stating that it is good and that the idea is to build administrative capacities so that Serbia, on the day of full EU membership, will be able to efficiently absorb funds from European Union funds. Opposition MPs, however, question the implementation of the law, claiming that Serbia will not join the EU while the Serbian Progressive Party remains in power.

Ruling party MPs emphasized that Serbia is the first candidate country to comprehensively regulate this draft law, and they argued that the opposition only declaratively supports Serbia’s EU accession but has so far not voted for a single European law.

Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić pointed to the importance of cooperation between the government and the opposition on this issue so that Serbian farmers could absorb greater funds once Serbia becomes a full EU member.

ZLF MP Robert Kozma stated in the debate that his parliamentary group submitted an amendment to the draft law so that, as he said, some future government could use the law when it leads Serbia into the EU, because in his view the country will not enter the EU during SNS rule and there will be no money from EU funds.

Kozma claims that from 2014 to 2020, only 45% of IPARD funds were utilized.

SNS MP Aleksandra Tomić responded to Kozma, stating that for the period 2021–2027, €378 million has been drawn, and that it has been shown that funds can be absorbed according to EU rules and standards, under the supervision of the European Commission.

She added that IPARD funds are drawn by citizens, not the state.

SNS MP Radoslav Milojičić said that 56% of IPARD funds for the 2021–2027 period have been utilized, but that two more years remain to draw even more funds.

MP Ana Eraković from the parliamentary group “People’s Movement of Serbia – New Face of Serbia” said that her group submitted an amendment proposing that the cohesion policy program be aligned with Serbia’s regional development strategy.

Jovanov on the opposition: “They go and ask for sanctions against the citizens of Serbia”

Head of the SNS parliamentary group Milenko Jovanov said it is good that citizens can see what the opposition’s policy is, while ZLF MP Robert Kozma again called for elections.

Kozma claims the government is looking for excuses for the lack of progress on the European path and believes there is no more time, and that elections should be held so that, as he said, “those who will bring Serbia into the EU” can come to power.

Responding to Kozma, Jovanov asked whether it would then be logical for ZLF to vote for this European law if they truly want Serbia to join the EU.

“I’m now somewhat confused. He just said this is a good law, but that there will be no benefit because the SNS is in power, and before that he says ‘call elections so we can defeat you, and then we will bring Serbia into the European Union’. So isn’t it logical then to vote for the law so they have it ready when they come to power? There is no need to struggle, everything is already prepared,” Jovanov said.

He added that opposition MPs effectively admitted during the session that they go to seek sanctions against those they believe should be sanctioned.

“They go and ask for sanctions against the citizens of Serbia. Against the state leadership. Are sanctions against the leadership not sanctions against the state? Of course they are. How do you think a state functions if the president, prime minister, parliament speaker, and ministers are under sanctions? Then the state is under sanctions too,” Jovanov said.

He added that he hopes citizens heard what opposition MPs said about sanctions.

“We will return to this, both during this debate and future ones, because it is very important for citizens that we repeat these two admissions: when laws are good for the state, they refuse to vote for them; and secondly, they go and seek sanctions against the citizens of Serbia, against those they deem should be sanctioned,” he said.

Jovanov also stated that ZLF MPs had already said at a parliamentary meeting that it is not in their interest for European laws to be adopted.

Serbian Unity Party MP Života Starčević assessed that the behavior of opposition MPs, who present themselves as pro-European, is deeply anti-European and anti-democratic.

“You cannot enter the European Union by blocking streets, you cannot enter the European Union by blocking the public broadcaster for days and weeks, you cannot enter the European Union by blocking universities, schools, and faculties. That is all violence,” he said.

He emphasized that power cannot be taken without elections.

“We had a mini tour of the ‘four musketeers’ through Berlin, Barcelona, and other places, where they spread the worst lies about their own country. That narrative is also an obstacle on our European path and they are doing great harm to their country,” Starčević said.

MP Branko Pavlović of “We – Voice from the People” believes that Serbia’s EU membership depends on, as he said, giving up Kosovo and Metohija, imposing sanctions on Russia, and abandoning Republika Srpska.

“All of this other talk is just storytelling. Of course, for our own sake we should improve conditions in all areas, in the rule of law and in the fight against corruption, but telling citizens in parliament that these key issues are not important is actually misleading them,” Pavlović said.