NC EU to improve efficiency of accession process

BELGRADE - The first plenary session of the National Convention on the European Union (NC EU), aimed to promote the debate on all aspects of EU integration and achieve the broadest possible social consensus on the EU accession, was held on Friday in the presence of members of the government, the parliament, and the civil sector.

NC EU originated as an idea in 2006, and its 21 working groups, established to monitor and assist the negotiations on all 35 chapters, were presented on Friday.

Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic opened the session by pointing out that the process of introducing far-reaching changes to the society strongly depends on active exchange of opinions on matters that are crucial for economic and social development, and on consulting the widest possible range of experts, the media, government and NGO sectors, citizens' associations, universities and the economy.

"The process of Serbia's European integration leading to full EU membership is, in fact, a process of internal reforms aimed at creating stable democratic institutions and a market economy driven by competitiveness and knowledge," said Gojkovic, who is also a member of the NC EU presidency.

The dialogue within the NC EU will strengthen the institutional framework for a successful progress and completion of the EU membership talks, noted Gojkovic.

This institutional framework was established at the initiative of the European Movement in Serbia, whose head Vlastimir Matejic recalled that one of the explanations for the political crisis that hit the EU in an earlier period was the lack of communication with the citizens.

For that reason, the NC EU will focus on reaching a general consensus in the society on all elements of...