The protection of human rights and the achieved standards in this area as the fundamental values ​​of all democratic societies, important also in the process of Serbia’s accession to the European Union (EU), was the topic of discussion by members of the European Parliament (EP) who visited the Institution of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality within the two-day program of the EU-Serbia Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee.

The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, presented to the European parliamentarians the competencies and work of the Institution, its specific position, importance and role in strengthening the protection of human rights, promoting equality and combating discrimination in the further development of a democratic and tolerant society. She emphasized that the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia is among the leading institutions in creating a legal practice of protection on all grounds of discrimination and actively participates in the work of all clusters of the European Network of Equality Bodies EQUINET.

The EP delegation acknowledged the importance of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality as an independent institution in the process of Serbia’s accession to the EU and commended its practice in working to improve the protection of the rights and equality of all citizens of Serbia, as well as its special commitment to European values ​​and EU integration.

The EP delegation consisted of chairwoman, parliamentarian Alessandra Moretti, parliamentarians Franc Bogovič, Jean-Lin Lacapelle and Andor Deli, political advisers Jan-Willem Vlasman, Jörgen Sill and Juliana Husar-Dekani, as well as members of the DG Expo Secretariat André De Munter and Anna Parfjonova.