Within international activities, the first joint meeting of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget of the Parliament of Montenegro and Committee on Finance, State Budget and Control of Public Spending of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia was held. The topic of the meeting was:Cooperation of committees with independent regulatory bodies with the aim of better control of public spending. The meeting was held in the House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade, with the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and Regional Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of the Western Balkans.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Vesna Kovač, Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, State Budget and Control of Public Spending and Mr Aleksandar Damjanović, Chairperson of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget. 

In their opening remarks, chairpersons of umbrella committees stated specifics in the functioning of regulatory bodies in the two countries, particularly emphasising the need of strengthening the role of a parliament in control over the work of those bodies.

Chairperson of the Committee Mr Aleksandar Damjanović  reminded of the legislative framework defining the relation of the Parliament of Montenegro with independent regulatory bodies. 

He emphasised that, during 2013, the Parliament of Montenegro decided, as an anti-crises measure, the revenue surplus of the independent regulatory bodies over expenditures to be sent to budget, as a temporary measure which would last until 1 January 2016. In addition, he cited as important provisions of special laws relating two regulators from the field of energetics and electronic communications, establishing that if the Parliament did not adopt annual reports on state i.e. work, the Parliament would dismiss chairperson and members of the Council.

On the other hand, Ms Vesna Kovač recalled to competences of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia i.e. Committee on Finance, State Budget and Control of Public Spending in terms of control function over regulatory bodies.

Fifteen MPs took part in the discussion, speaking on problems and improvement of control over regulatory bodies, assessing positively on that occasion the funding of Regional Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of the Western Balkans as well as establishment of regional cooperation among committees. The topics which could be the subject of interest for both states were proposed, such as – the issue of payment, functioning of the labour market and capital market, improvement of tax revenue collection and fight against grey economy.

It was agreed committees to compose proposal of assessments and positions resulting from the joint meeting discussion and the possibility for holding another meeting in Montenegro was announced.