"Green light for candidacy bid in October"

The EU Council of Ministers could soon decide on Serbia’s application for EU candidacy, daily Vecernje novosti writes. As things are now, the EU 27 will put the Serbian EU candidacy application on the agenda of the Council of Ministers’ meeting on October 10 in Luxembourg, the daily has reported. "Green light for candidacy bid in October" Top EU officials will give a green light to the EC for giving an opinion on Serbia’s request in October, which is based on a questionnaire containing several thousands of questions that Serbia will have to answer, the daily writes. Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said on Thursday that his country, which will preside over the EU next year, is asking the EU to remain open for the admission of new candidates. Serbia officially will not be on the agenda of the “Gymnich” meeting, but sources from the Belgian presidency say that the ministers will unofficially discuss the issue. “Agreement on writing a joint resolution is an important element and a positive step in relations between the EU and Serbia,” Belgian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bart Ouvry told the daily. President of the European Parliament (EP) Committee for Southeast Europe Eduard Kukan has also confirmed that “the Serbian government’s decision to revise the draft resolution on Kosovo will reflect on Serbia’s future on its road toward the EU”. He has announced that the initiative to allow the EC to draft an opinion about the Serbian candidacy application will gain support. While EU officials are saying that Serbia is being rewarded for the compromise on the resolution and that it has therefore made a step toward the EU, European Integration Office (SEIO) Director Milica Delevic told Vecernje novosti that “the issue should not be seen as trade”. “This is a joint appearance and partnership relation. I wouldn’t speculate on dates, when it happens - it happens,” she explained. The daily has learned that certain countries, led by Italy, but also those that have not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, requested that issue be put on the EU agenda as soon as possible, at the Foreign Ministers' meeting on Monday, September 13 if possible. However, it is hardly feasible due to the EU’s internal procedures. It is realistic to expect that the EU 27 will reach a consensus by October, although there is the most “rigid” group which would like to prolong the matter until the beginning of November and the next EC report on the progress of certain countries in the process of European integrations. Serbia’s most recent step toward the EU was made by the unfreezing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Five out of the 27 parliaments of the EU member-states have ratified the document hus far, Spain, Malta, Bulgaria, Italy and Slovakia.

"Green light for candidacy bid in October"

Top EU officials will give a green light to the EC for giving an opinion on Serbia’s request in October, which is based on a questionnaire containing several thousands of questions that Serbia will have to answer, the daily writes.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said on Thursday that his country, which will preside over the EU next year, is asking the EU to remain open for the admission of new candidates.

Serbia officially will not be on the agenda of the “Gymnich” meeting, but sources from the Belgian presidency say that the ministers will unofficially discuss the issue.

“Agreement on writing a joint resolution is an important element and a positive step in relations between the EU and Serbia,” Belgian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bart Ouvry told the daily.

President of the European Parliament (EP) Committee for Southeast Europe Eduard Kukan has also confirmed that “the Serbian government’s decision to revise the draft resolution on Kosovo will reflect on Serbia’s future on its road toward the EU”.

He has announced that the initiative to allow the EC to draft an opinion about the Serbian candidacy application will gain support.

While EU officials are saying that Serbia is being rewarded for the compromise on the resolution and that it has therefore made a step toward the EU, European Integration Office (SEIO) Director Milica Delević told Večernje novosti that “the issue should not be seen as trade”.

“This is a joint appearance and partnership relation. I wouldn’t speculate on dates, when it happens - it happens,” she explained.

The daily has learned that certain countries, led by Italy, but also those that have not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, requested that issue be put on the EU agenda as soon as possible, at the Foreign Ministers' meeting on Monday, September 13 if possible.

However, it is hardly feasible due to the EU’s internal procedures.

It is realistic to expect that the EU 27 will reach a consensus by October, although there is the most “rigid” group which would like to prolong the matter until the beginning of November and the next EC report on the progress of certain countries in the process of European integrations.

Serbia’s most recent step toward the EU was made by the unfreezing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Five out of the 27 parliaments of the EU member-states have ratified the document hus far, Spain, Malta, Bulgaria, Italy and Slovakia.