NPC

In a recent study of the plenary halls of every UN member-state legislature, Amsterdam-based architectural firm XML analysed the relationships between space, decision-making and democracy, exploring the recent history of our legislative topologies and posing timely questions about their future. Here, the award-winning agency outlines its findings.

Parliaments around the world: what can architecture teach us about democracy? In a recent study of the plenary halls of every UN member-state legislature, Amsterdam-based architectural firm XML analysed the relationships between space, decision-making and democracy, exploring the recent history of our legislative topologies and posing timely questions about their future....

Opening ceremony of the Meeting of the Committees for European Integration in Vlašić.

Last week, Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) released its global report on corruption perceptions index for 2016:

In the Western Balkans, TI attributed "weaknesses in law enforcement to 'captured' political systems in which politicians wield enormous influence on all walks of public life, while being close to wealthy private businessmen or even organized crime networks." TI highlights that integrity in politics is key to fighting against corruption.

Kosovo, ranked 95th, was the worst performer in the region, followed by Macedonia (90th), Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina (83rd), Serbia (72nd), and Montenegro (64th).

Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 No country gets close to a perfect score in this year's index. A vicious cycle has developed between corruption, unequal distribution of power and unequal distribution of wealth.

As you may already know, the beginning of the year was marked by new elections in which, after four rounds of voting Antonio Tajani was elected as the new president of the European Parliament.

The president is elected for a renewable term of two and a half years and his bureau consists of 14 Vice-Presidents and 5 Quaestors.

Feel free to find more information by clicking the link below.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170113STO58069/who's-who-overview-of-the-people-in-charge-of-parliament?utm_campaign=engagor&utm_content=engagor_MzkwMTI0OQ%3D%3D&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Who's who: overview of the people in charge of Parliament | News | European Parliament MEPs elected Antonio Tajani as Parliament president on 17 January and on 18 January voted for who they wanted as vice-presidents and quaestors for the second half of the parliamentary term. Check out our infographic to find out who was chosen for Parliament's key posts.

Did you know that 4 days ago, in 1958, EC held its very first meeting!
Established by the Treaty of Rome (1957) the Commission of the European Economic Community (as they were then called) set out to achieve two main objectives: economic and social progress; and an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe 👐
| This year they mark 60 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome 📜 ✍️ Also referred to as the Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community, the Treaty of Rome laid the foundations of the EU: a common market, a customs union and common policies.

On this day in 1958 we held our very first meeting!

Established by the Treaty of Rome (1957) the Commission of the European Economic Community (as we were then called) set out to achieve two main objectives: economic and social progress; and an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe 👐

| This year we mark 60 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome 📜 ✍️ Also referred to as the Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community, the Treaty of Rome laid the foundations of the EU: a common market, a customs union and common policies.

The World Bank, in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), and NPC organized a “Regional Meeting of Clerks of The Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance, and European Integration of Western Balkans” in Belgrade, Serbia from 19-21 December, 2016. This event brought together parliamentary staff from the relevant parliamentary budget and finance committees from the Western Balkans.

Seven clerks from the budget and finance committees in the Western Balkans parliaments (Parliament of Albania, National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of B&H, House of People of the Parliament of the Federation of B&H, Assembly of Kosovo, Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Parliament of Montenegro) and two researchers from the Parliamentary Budget Office of Serbia took part at this workshop.

The Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of Western Balkans wishes you a very Happy Holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Ever wondered what EU commission 2016 progress reports say about the parliaments in the Western Balkans?

You are only one click away from it:

http://npcbalkan.net/admin/doc/5920Newsletter_Godishen_2016.pdf

npcbalkan.net

We are happy to announce that website for the Parliamentary Budget Office in the Serbian parliament is officially launched and live.

For more information, analysis and briefs on current budgetary, fiscal and financial oversight issues that the PBO will be preparing visit:

http://pbk.rs/

ПБК - ПАРЛАМЕНТАРНА БУЏЕТСКА КАНЦЕЛАРИЈА PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE

Strong parliaments, political parties and civil society are at the heart of effective democratic governance.

The UK shares its democratic experience with the world to help make the sustainable development goals a reality.

This International Day of Democracy WFD asks why does democracy matter in 2016..

Video: International Day of Democracy 2016

Mr. Ranko Krsman and Mr. Radoslav Sretenovic, state auditors from B&H and Serbia, discussing about the opportunities for cooperation between the Parliaments and State Audit Offices in the Western Balkans at second day of NPC conference in Belgrade.

"Towards an Open Budgetary Process and Stronger Financial Scrutiny", Mr. Marjanco Nikolov, chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee in the Assembly of Republic of Macedonia, on the budgetary process and the role of parliaments.