Prodi: EU candidate status for Serbia

In a letter obtained by Beta Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi calls for Serbia's speedy accession to the EU. Prodi said that decisions on giving Serbia the possibility of EU membership "cannot be put off any longer", a view "welcomed by several members of the EU and European Commission," according to the agency. Prodi: EU candidate status for Serbia Prodi called on the EU membership and institutions to consider ways of giving substance to Serbia's prospects of EU membership, "at a special time in the history of that country and the region." Prodi goes on to say he is convinced that Serbia, which is crucial to lasting normalization in the region due to its location in the central part of the Western Balkans, should be made a candidate for EU membership and provided with a liberal visa regime for its citizens. Several EU countries responded that they would like to know what Belgrade intends to do to ensure full cooperation with the Hague tribunal before giving Prodi's proposal proper consideration. The letter was recently sent to the European Commission. EU member states and institutions have welcomed the recent conclusion of technical talks with Serbia on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). After a report from Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, the European Commission intends to propose that the agreement be initialed and signed by the year's end. According to EU diplomatic sources, "this is precisely why Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema did not bring this matter up at a EU ministers' meeting in Portugal several days ago." Romano Prodi favors Serbia's quick accession (FoNet) Boston Globe: Kosovo independence hurts Serbia’s EU chances The Boston Globe writes that Serbia’s European perspective will be put at risk if Kosovo becomes independent. The American daily writes that said if Western powers recognize Kosovo’s independence, "it would end all chances of Serbia continuing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal." The Globe says that negative attitudes towards the West, particularly the U.S. have begun to resurface in Serbia because of statements that Kosovo’s independence will be recognized. The negative sentiments are bolstered by the memory of the NATO-led bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 ending conflicts between Serbian forces and Albanian rebels, according to the newspaper. “Serbian politicians, even pro-Western ones, said they worry that a recognition of Kosovo would introduce a new era of Serbian isolation and hostility toward the West - leaving Europe with little sway,” according to the article.

Prodi: EU candidate status for Serbia

Prodi called on the EU membership and institutions to consider ways of giving substance to Serbia's prospects of EU membership, "at a special time in the history of that country and the region."

Prodi goes on to say he is convinced that Serbia, which is crucial to lasting normalization in the region due to its location in the central part of the Western Balkans, should be made a candidate for EU membership and provided with a liberal visa regime for its citizens.

Several EU countries responded that they would like to know what Belgrade intends to do to ensure full cooperation with the Hague tribunal before giving Prodi's proposal proper consideration. The letter was recently sent to the European Commission.

EU member states and institutions have welcomed the recent conclusion of technical talks with Serbia on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).

After a report from Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, the European Commission intends to propose that the agreement be initialed and signed by the year's end.

According to EU diplomatic sources, "this is precisely why Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema did not bring this matter up at a EU ministers' meeting in Portugal several days ago."

Boston Globe: Kosovo independence hurts Serbia’s EU chances

The Boston Globe writes that Serbia’s European perspective will be put at risk if Kosovo becomes independent.

The American daily writes that said if Western powers recognize Kosovo’s independence, "it would end all chances of Serbia continuing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal."

The Globe says that negative attitudes towards the West, particularly the U.S. have begun to resurface in Serbia because of statements that Kosovo’s independence will be recognized.

The negative sentiments are bolstered by the memory of the NATO-led bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 ending conflicts between Serbian forces and Albanian rebels, according to the newspaper.

“Serbian politicians, even pro-Western ones, said they worry that a recognition of Kosovo would introduce a new era of Serbian isolation and hostility toward the West - leaving Europe with little sway,” according to the article.