“Serbia likely to get EU talks date in June”

BRUSSELS EU ministers will propose the European Council on Monday to grant Serbia a date for the start of the EU accession talks, Tanjug has learned. “The recommendation will not be unconditional because both sides need to show that they are planning to start implementing the agreement in good will,” a high-ranking diplomat who wished to remain anonymous told Tanjug. “Serbia likely to get EU talks date in June” He explained that there was time until June for heads of state and government of the EU member states to confirm that Belgrade and Pristina started to implement the agreement. “If there are no unexpected problems with the implementation of the agreement, there will be no new conditions,” the source added. He did not rule out a possibility that certain member states would criticize Serbia in some aspects at a ministerial meeting on Monday, noting that the criticism would not refer to Kosovo but to internal reforms. However, he strongly believes that the complaints would not be a reason to set new conditions. Serbian and Kosovo Prime Ministers Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci initialed the agreement on Friday in Brussels. (Beta/AP, file) Tanjug

“Serbia likely to get EU talks date in June”

He explained that there was time until June for heads of state and government of the EU member states to confirm that Belgrade and Priština started to implement the agreement.

“If there are no unexpected problems with the implementation of the agreement, there will be no new conditions,” the source added.

He did not rule out a possibility that certain member states would criticize Serbia in some aspects at a ministerial meeting on Monday, noting that the criticism would not refer to Kosovo but to internal reforms.

However, he strongly believes that the complaints would not be a reason to set new conditions.

Serbian and Kosovo Prime Ministers Ivica Dačič and Hashim Thaci initialed the agreement on Friday in Brussels.