Today in Sarajevo finished the two-day VII Conference of the Committees on European integration of the countries included in the Stabilization and Association Process in South East Europe (COSAP), organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through the active discussion of the members of the parliamentary delegations, VII COSAP Conference offered the opportunity to exchange opinions and positive experiences, and point out to their applicability to the countries in the region among the parliamentarians regarding the issues that deal with the subject of the new concept of pre-accession assistance, followed by the role of the committees on European integration in meeting the criteria for membership to the EU, and transforming powers in the EU integration process.

Apart from the parliamentary delegations of Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, the Republic of Croatia, Macedonia, and the host country Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Jelko Kacin, Vice-Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, also participated at the VII COSAP Conference. In his address to the Members of the Parliament, Mr. Jelko Kacin reminded that the EP Resolution especially points out the need for true reconciliation among the countries in the region, tolerance and return of emigrants and displaced persons as fundamental principles of the Union, upon which, as he stated, the countries of the Western Balkans must also reside. Mr. Kacin welcomed the progress of Montenegro in the integration process toward the full-fledged membership to the EU, and he added that the key of success of Montenegro is in the responsible politics toward the dynamics of fulfilling obligations which are in the European agenda. He expressed conviction that Montenegro has a potential to combat corruption and organised crime, but also to work on enhancement of observation of human rights, especially the rights of the members of the LGBT population.

With regard to the role of the parliament in the integration process, Mr. Jelko Kacin said that the work of the legislative body reflects the political culture of a country, and deemed it necessary for the members of the Committee on European Integration themselves to be the guardians of European laws and their implementation. In addition, he added that the role of parliaments should not be brought to the level of being only the "stamp" for the laws, but also a partner to the Government and the public for whose awareness regarding the process of the European integration the parliaments are responsible to a great extent.

At the VI COSAP Conference, the parliamentarians adopted a Joint Statement which, among other things, welcomes the assessment of the European Parliament Resolution, which strongly supports the enlargement process, then, a new concept of pre-accession assistance (IPA II), which allows more countries to access the funds specifically intended for the socio-economic issues, and stresses the importance of cooperation between the anti-corruption bodies of all countries in the region, since combating corruption and organized crime is of vital importance for the accession process. In addition, in a Joint Statement, Montenegro is congratulated on the opening of the negotiation process, as a purposeful incentive of the enlargement policy to the Western Balkans and encouragement to the countries in the region to continue on the path toward the European integration, and Croatia on the forthcoming full-fledged membership to the Union.

On behalf of the Committee on European Integration of the Parliament of Montenegro, the Member of the Parliament, Mr. Zoran Srzentić also participated at the VI Conference of the Committees on European integration of the countries included in the Stabilization and Association Process in South East Europe.