"Meeting to affect European Council decision"

BELGRADE -- Tuesday's meeting between Ivica Dačić, Hashim Thaci and Catherine Ashton "is vital" for Serbia's desire to be given a date for the start of EU accession talks.

Vincent Degert (FoNet, file)

This was heard on Monday in Belgrade from EU Delegation to Serbia head Vincent Degert.

Degert told reporters that "there would be no new conditions or surprises when it came to requirements to be met by Serbia," stressing that the third meeting between Dačić and Thaci "came at the right time".

Many of the conclusions and decisions of the Council will depend on what will be achieved on Tuesday, said he.

"This meeting is of vital importance, even though more will take place in the future, as it is occurring at a very important point in time," he added.

He stressed that both parties "knew very well what was expected of them as both wanted to continue their road to Europe".

"We are looking forward to Tuesday's meeting," Degert said.

Dačić and Thaci will discuss integrated management of the administrative crossings between central Serbia and Kosovo.

Even though the new round of talks under the auspices of the EU foreign policy chief has not yet been officially announced by Brussels, it is expected that the dialogue will take the form of a working dinner.