The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr. Slavica Đukić-Dejanović, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director, Michael Harvey, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Assembly and the USAID Regarding the Cooperation on the Separation of Powers Program in Serbia (SPP).

The Memorandum signing ceremony will take place at the Palace of the National Assembly on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 11.00 AM, which will mark the formal launch of the cooperation between the National Assembly and this USAID Program. The Ambassador of the United States in Serbia, Cameron Munter, will speak at the ceremony.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is determined to provide complete support to a strategic goal – accelerated access of Serbia into full membership in the European Union.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the two signatory parties establishes the framework for cooperative work between the National Assembly and USAID on developing the capacity of the Assembly to improve its budget and resource management functions in line with European Union standards, and to facilitate greater fiscal autonomy of the National Assembly from the executive branch.

The cooperation on the project will last until August 2011 and the Advisory Committee, composed of representatives of the National Assembly and USAID will provide guidance regarding its implementation.

The Memorandum of Understanding will be signed in the Central Hall of the National Assembly’s Palace, Nikola Pašić Square 13.