Dutch FM: Don't submit candidate bid

Serbia's EU candidate application is not merely a technical issue, says Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

Izvor: Beta

Thursday, 29.10.2009.

12:29

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Serbia's EU candidate application is not merely a technical issue, says Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen. Instead, "it is above all a political act", he was quoted as saying. Dutch FM: Don't submit candidate bid Verhagen also stated that this move should be made after Serbia had achieved full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. “The first next step for Serbia should be activating the interim agreement and the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, after full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal has been achieved. Only then should Serbia apply for EU candidacy,” Verhagen told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik. The Dutch minister added that he did not agree with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini’s statement that application for EU candidacy was "only a technical issue" which could be solved without activating the interim trade agreement. “I think we have reached a firm agreement in the EU that the process of European integration must go step by step, without skipping any,” stated Verhagen.

Dutch FM: Don't submit candidate bid

Verhagen also stated that this move should be made after Serbia had achieved full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

“The first next step for Serbia should be activating the interim agreement and the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, after full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal has been achieved. Only then should Serbia apply for EU candidacy,” Verhagen told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik.

The Dutch minister added that he did not agree with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini’s statement that application for EU candidacy was "only a technical issue" which could be solved without activating the interim trade agreement.

“I think we have reached a firm agreement in the EU that the process of European integration must go step by step, without skipping any,” stated Verhagen.

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