Bildt: Interim deal before candidacy

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt says Serbia and the EU must begin implementing the interim agreement before Serbia becomes applies for membership. “First the interim agreement between the EU and Serbia must take effect, then we will be ready to accept Serbia’s EU candidacy application, but, until the agreement is implemented, there can be no talk of the right timing for Serbia’s application,” Bildt said. Bildt: Interim deal before candidacy Asked what his reaction was to the statement of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic that Serbia could submit its candidacy application by the end of the year, Bildt, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said that it was up to all potential candidates to take this decision for themselves. “However, we recommend countries that are potential candidates to submit their application following consultations with all EU member-states and the European Commission,” he concluded. Carl Bildt (FoNet, archive)

Bildt: Interim deal before candidacy

Asked what his reaction was to the statement of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić that Serbia could submit its candidacy application by the end of the year, Bildt, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said that it was up to all potential candidates to take this decision for themselves.

“However, we recommend countries that are potential candidates to submit their application following consultations with all EU member-states and the European Commission,” he concluded.