Current developments further to the recent Congress monitoring visit were at the centre of today's meeting between Anders Knape (Sweden, EPP-CCE), President of the Chamber of Local Authorities, and Ms Ana Brnabic, Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, in Belgrade. The encounter took place in the margins of the meeting of the Congress Current Affairs Committee, which Mr Knape also attended. Minister Brnabic notably stressed the importance of international cooperation and confirmed that Serbia was about to establish a national academy for public servants which will include the local level and should open probably in 2018. During his stay in Belgrade Mr Knape also met with the Ambassador of Sweden to Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. Jan Lundin, as well as representatives of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities and with members of the Serbian Delegation to the Congress. On this occasion, discussions focused on the need for cooperation between local authorities in order to improve service quality for citizens, and the importance of good consultation processes between the Government and the members of Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities. Photo: Anders Knape, President of the Chamber of Local Authorities, met with and Ms Ana Brnabic, Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.