Brussels, 02/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU's deputy head of delegation in Serbia, Andriano Martins, expressed his concerns on Wednesday 1 August, about a Serbian law discussed in Parliament on Thursday 2 August which would increase parliamentary control over the central bank. Adriano Martins said that the adoption of these amendments “would be a considerable step back in the alignment of Serbia's legislation and principles with the European Union”. Martins told Reuters that the European Commission had not been consulted about the text said that that the draft amendments “raise deep concerns as they are likely to jeopardise the principle of independence of the National Bank”.
The draft law calls for a control body, appointed by parliament, which would play an “active role” in decision-making in the monetary policy field. The body would be represented on the board of governors at the central bank and the governor, vice governors and president would be elected by parliament.
On Thursday 2 August, the governor of the central bank, Dejan Soskic, resigned in protest against this text and stressed that these amendments could “seriously encroach on the independence of the central bank… and increase economic and international instability in the country”. (CG/transl.fl)