Belgrade hosted two-day conference titled “The role of parliaments in promoting investments and competitiveness in the Western Balkans”, on 3 and 4 March. Four panel discussions marked the conference – during which an accent was placed on the need for drafting the joint strategy for attracting foreign investments to the Western Balkans, importance and predictability of tax policy and equalization ofstatus of foreign and domestic investors for the purpose of providing a favourable investment environment.

The Conference brought together MPs from Western Balkans parliaments and Parliament of Scotland as well as regional experts for state aid and competitiveness, representatives of chambers of commerce and agencies for encouraging investments. During the conference, the role of parliaments in controlling the enforcement of policies relating to investments was particularly stressed and participants stated that by strengthening the role of parliaments in the region – the role of umbrella working bodies also increased – through analysis, accepting or amending proposed laws. Regional countries should work on cost–benefit analysis of legislation as well as competitiveness analysis in implementing the state aid policy – the purpose and justification of which lies in controlling the use of state aid. With regard to that, a focus of interest should be directed to analysis of state aid influence to competition, efficiency and effectiveness of investments. Additionally, the importance of strengthening mutual cooperation among relevant parliamentary committees, government agencies and chambers of commerce was emphasised – as important mechanisms not only for promotion but also for encouraging the very competitiveness.  

During the concerned panels Mr Aleksandar Damjanović, Chairperson of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget, spoke, pointing out the need for creating legislative frameworks which would equalise foreign and domestic investments, thus ensuing non-discrimination regime in that field. During his speech, he stressed the need for stable tax system, speedier adopting of spatial plans, saying that long court processes, non-compliance withcontract and non-settled restitution processes were limiting factors for bigger investments. Presenting the term of economic statehood which exists in Montenegro’s legislation, Mr Damjanović opened a dilemma on – whether economic statehood should be one of models for attracting foreign investments. Participants said that parliaments’ oversight role should be strengthened in terms of controlling the application of a number of adopted laws – in order to improve the business ambience.

During the final part of the Conference, recommendations relating to three fields were adopted, namely: role of parliaments in terms of adopting laws aimed at improving competitiveness and investments; recommendations of the Network itself  directed to establishing regional initiatives for encouraging economic development of the region; and, finally, recommendations relating to development of oversight capacities for controlling state aid policies and encouraging competitiveness and attracting foreign direct investments. When the official part of the Conference ended, Chairperson of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget of the Parliament of Montenegro took over the six-month presidency of the Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of the Western Balkans,

The Conference was organised by the Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of the Western Balkans with the support of Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro was composed of: Mr Aleksandar Damjanović, Mr Zoran Vukčević, Mr Mladen Bojanić, Mr Fatmir Gjeka – members of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget and Mr Damir Davidović – Secretary General of the Parliament of Montenegro.

Upon the invitation of the Westminster Foundation Mr Slaven Radunović, Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration, attended the Conference.