Regional parliamentary conference, titled “Parliaments and budgetary and financial oversight in the Western Balkan countries” started today in Tirana.

The conference is organized by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, and Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of the Western Balkan countries.

The two-day conference, attended by MPs and representatives of eight parliaments of the Western Balkans, as well as experts for the issues of budget, financial policies, and representatives of supreme audit institutions, was opened by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Albania Mr Vangjel Dule.

During the first panel session, titled: “Public Finance Systems and Budget Process in the Western Balkans” on the role of the parliaments during planning and adopting the budget and monitoring its execution, the speakers were: academic and a member of the Committee on Economy and Finance of the Parliament of Albania Mr Anastas Angdjeli; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Mr Veroljub Arsić; and Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska Ms Željka Stojičić.

During the second panel session, titled: “Establishing Parliamentary Budget Offices”, the following panellists presented the best practice and benefits for the parliaments through establishing parliamentary budget offices: Senior Researcher at the Financial Scrutiny Unit at the Parliament of Scotland Ms Scherie Nicol; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Mr Vladimir Marinković; and former Prime Minister of Albania and MP at the Albanian Parliament Mr Ylli Bufi.

The following members of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget of the Parliament of Montenegro participated in the first day of the conference: Mr Aleksandar Damjanović, Chairperson of the Committee and member of the Network’s Board, Mr Veljko Zarubica and Mr Almer Kalač. The conference was also attended by Mr Zdravko Jovović, advisor at the Embassy of Montenegro to the Republic of Albania.

The continuation of the Regional Parliamentary Conference will be held tomorrow.