National Assembly

BELGRADE - The motion to launch the procedure to dismiss Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic cannot be put on the agenda of the parliament's session because it has not been put forward by a minimum of one third of MPs, Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic said on Thursday.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye finally got a new prime minister on her third attempt Feb. 16, despite claims by opposition lawmakers that her nominee was morally unfit for the office.
      
Lee Wan-Koo, a senior legislator from Park's ruling Saenuri party, was approved in parliament by 148 votes to 128 after a tortuous nomination process.
      

Bulgaria's ruling party GERB and opposition party the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) have locked horns over a proposal for new borrowing of EUR 8 B by 2017.

The Bulgarian Parliament rejected the proposal of the opposition BSP party to discuss the possible limitation of further EU sanctions against Russia on Wednesday.

Last week, the parliament similarly refused to include the discussion of the proposal in its weekly agenda.

BELGRADE - The Military Security Agency (VBA) did not violate any laws, and Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic failed to provide strong evidence that leaders of trade unions, high-ranking party officials, prosecutors and judges were under audio surveilance, the Serbian parliament committee for monitoring security agencies has concluded.

NOVI SAD - Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic has said that this year's work of MPs has been very dynamic and efficient, adding that over 100 laws have been adopted and a number of international agreements ratified, while the parliament has been an active agent in the EU integration process.

BELGRADE - The government of Serbia adopted on Friday the Bill amending and modifying the 2014 budget law and forwarded it to the Serbian parliament for debate under urgent procedure.

The aim of the bill is to re-direct the significant budget savings achieved this year into meeting overdue obligations and debts, the participants said after the meeting.

The Bulgarian Parliament is to discuss at first reading the amendments to the Interior Ministry Act, which were tabled by the main ruling GERB last month.

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BELGRADE - The government is implementing economic measures in extremely difficult conditions, but the Serbian citizens have understanding for these measures because they are crucial to the economic recovery of the country, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said during a government meeting discussing savings measures in the budget for the coming year on Friday.

The Parliament's Committee on corruption, conflicts of interest and parliamentary ethics will stop reviewing anonymous tip-offs, according to Valentin Nikolov, chair of the entity.