Commissioner Füle to deliver recommendation for candidate status to Serbia
"On the basis of the progress achieved in reforms, co-operation with the International Court Tribunal for ex-Yugoslavia, and regional reconciliation, we have decided to recommend granting Serbia Candidate Status on the understanding that Belgrade re-engages in the dialogue with Kosovo and is moving swiftly to the implementation in good faith of agreements reached to date", stated Commissioner Füle on 12 October ahead of his visit to Belgrade on 14 October to present the European Commission's Opinion on Serbia's EU membership application.
"We also propose to open negotiations with Serbia as soon as it achieves further progress in meeting the one key priority we identify, namely: further steps to normalise relations with Kosovo in line with the conditions of the Stabilisation and Association Process," Mr Füle stressed.
He will explain the content of the Opinion to the political leaders in Belgrade, where he will meet with the president Boris Tadić, parliament speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković and will also participate at the discussions of the Igman Initiative attended by political leaders of other countries in the region.
For more information:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/potential-candidates/serbia/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/key-documents/reports_oct_2011_en.htm