Serbia becomes EU candidate - Negotiations on admission to the EU upon progress in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue

(Vincent Degert hands EC's opinion to Mirko Cvetkovic)

The European Commission (EC) recommended today that Serbia be given the EU candidate status based on the opinion confirming a significant progress made by our country in most areas on the EU agenda.

The EC recommended that the accession negotiations begin as soon as Serbia achieves “additional significant progress in further normalization of relations with Kosovo”, primarily in the following four domains: telecommunications, energy, university diplomas, and regional presentation of Kosovo.

That means that there are no new conditions for Serbia and that the EU Council can make a decision to start negotiations with our country the moment it is confirmed that a progress has been made in aforementioned four fields.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele stated today that the progress in those fields would confirm obvious reform of the justice system, the rule of law, and other areas of crucial importance for meeting the Copenhagen political criteria.

The EC opinion particularly compliments Serbia's efforts to deal with war criminals, eradicate organized crime and improve its cooperation with neighbors.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert handed today in Belgrade the European Commission's recommendation for giving Serbia the EU candidate status to Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Delegacija Evropske unije u Republici Srbiji Beograd

Government of Serbia

Mirko Cvetkovic

Brussels

admission to the EU

EU Delegation to Serbia

European Commission

EU candidate status

EU membership

EU Council

Stefan Fuele

Vincent Degert

EC recommendation for giving Serbia the EU candidate status

Kosovo status