EFTA Parliamentarians visit Albania and Serbia

The parliamentary delegation, which was headed by Mr Árni Thór Sigurdsson, visited both capitals with the main purpose of discussing strengthened trade relations between EFTA and Albania and EFTA and Serbia after the trade agreements have entered into force, and to exchange views on the EU integration process in both countries.

In Tirana the delegation had rich substance discussions with two standing committees of the Albanian Parliament, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Economics Committee on EFTA-Albania relations, Albania’s EU application and the EEA. The delegation was also received by Ms Jozefina Topalli, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, and met with representatives of the Albanian Chamber of Commerce. A meeting was also held with Mr Edmond Haxhinasto, the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Albania, who briefed the parliamentarians on the latest developments in Albania on the European integration processes, visa liberalisation, government reforms in combating corruption, the promotion of foreign investments and the establishment of the most favourable domestic climate for them.

From Tirana the delegation travelled to Belgrade where meetings with three substance committees of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia took place. Mr Milos Jevtic, Chairman of the Development and International Economic Relations Committee, and his colleagues discussed with the EFTA delegation trade relations between EFTA and Serbia and the major milestones in Serbia’s economic development. In the meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Mr Dragoljub Micunovic, the group learned about fast integrating political and economic relations in the Balkans region and the way in which authorities are striving to overcome the region's troubled history. The EFTA parliamentarians also learned about Serbia-EU relations on both governmental and parliamentary levels from Mr Lazlo Varga, Chairman of the EU Integration Committee and his colleagues.

In addition to meeting colleagues in the Parliament of Serbia, the delegation had a very fruitful meeting with Mr Bozidar Djelic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EU Integration. The delegation also met with officials from the Ministry for Economy and Regional Development, where they learned about plans for an EFTA-Serbia trade promotion seminar, and also held a meeting with Mr Vuk Djokovic, State Secretary at the Ministry for Finance, who discussed the state of the Serbian economy. Finally, the delegation met with representatives of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce.

Please click on the image below to view further pictures from the visit.