FM: EU accession process to become "more strict"

Serbian FM Vuk Jeremic has said that Serbia will soon face a "more strict" approach of the EU, as the country hopes to join the organization. Speaking in Luxembourg during a meeting of Western Balkans and EU foreign ministers, Jeremic said that the union would insist on the implementation of all standards in a way which was not asked of others who previously joined. FM: EU accession process to become "more strict" He also noted that enlargement that would encompass the Western Balkans was not a priority for a majority of EU member-states. "We must be completely honest. The situation is far from ideal. The road is not at all easy," Jeremic was quoted as saying, and adding that there should be no speculation as to how long the process would take. Jeremic however also noted that there were no countries that were strongly opposed to further enlargement, as well as that there were "no problems that could not be solved", but repeated that the situation was "far from ideal". Serbia, he said, would work diligently on the issue of EU integrations, and asserted that the tone of the conference on Monday was "positive". Jeremic also met with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Meanwhile, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule stated that participants of the forum concluded that Croatia's progress in its integration process and the arrest of Hague indictee Ratko Mladic gave a new momentum to the integration process of the region. Another subject of discussion was the situation in Macedonia after elections there, said he. "I believe that a momentum can be expected in the second part of this year from a combination of all these elements, when progress reports are expected, as well as the opinion on Serbia's candidature," Fule was quoted as saying. Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug, file)

FM: EU accession process to become "more strict"

He also noted that enlargement that would encompass the Western Balkans was not a priority for a majority of EU member-states.

"We must be completely honest. The situation is far from ideal. The road is not at all easy," Jeremić was quoted as saying, and adding that there should be no speculation as to how long the process would take.

Jeremić however also noted that there were no countries that were strongly opposed to further enlargement, as well as that there were "no problems that could not be solved", but repeated that the situation was "far from ideal".

Serbia, he said, would work diligently on the issue of EU integrations, and asserted that the tone of the conference on Monday was "positive".

Jeremić also met with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Meanwhile, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule stated that participants of the forum concluded that Croatia's progress in its integration process and the arrest of Hague indictee Ratko Mladić gave a new momentum to the integration process of the region.

Another subject of discussion was the situation in Macedonia after elections there, said he.

"I believe that a momentum can be expected in the second part of this year from a combination of all these elements, when progress reports are expected, as well as the opinion on Serbia's candidature," Fule was quoted as saying.