Candidacy decision "test of EU's maturity"

Deputy PM Ivica Dacic stated on Thursday that the decision on granting Serbia an EU candidate status will be a test of maturity not only for Serbia. He added that it was also a test of the EU's "neutral and balanced" approach to all countries. Candidacy decision "test of EU's maturity" The leader of the SPS party, who also serves as interior minister in the current cabinet, further stated that Serbia had done everything regardless of new conditions set up by the EU- It would be a huge paradox if Serbia's non-acceptance of Pristina's regional presentation was the reason for not getting the candidate status, he asserted. If Serbia were any other country, it would get the candidate status smoothly, he said, and pointed out that Serbian President Boris Tadic would not give his consent to something which would undermine the country's territorial integrity. Dacic also said that Serbia will continue to exist on December 10 and that 'Serbia or the EU' dilemma is artificial, because Serbia is the most important. He noted that the country is ready to continue its constructive relations with Pristina and the EU, but that it is debatable whether this would be enough for a positive decision to be reached. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug) "Risk reducing" Ruling Democratic Party (DS) Vice President Dusan Petrovic said on Thursday Serbia's EU integration would reduce the risk of destabilization in the country and entire Southeastern Europe. "If the EU integration slows down or stops, we will enter the zone of political instability. I see no other way for Serbia to be politically stable than to go towards the EU as fast as possible," Petrovic noted. According to him, without progress towards the EU, "there is a large risk of Serbia entering a process in which conservative forces, which tend to use nationalism as a weapon, could become the key political factor again." "That is not good," said Petrovic, who is also the minister of agriculture, trade, forestry and water management. It is in EU's best interest that Serbia gets the candidate status, he pointed out. Serbia has done everything necessary for a positive decision and should get the status because of it, he believes.

Candidacy decision "test of EU's maturity"

The leader of the SPS party, who also serves as interior minister in the current cabinet, further stated that Serbia had done everything regardless of new conditions set up by the EU-

It would be a huge paradox if Serbia's non-acceptance of Priština's regional presentation was the reason for not getting the candidate status, he asserted.

If Serbia were any other country, it would get the candidate status smoothly, he said, and pointed out that Serbian President Boris Tadić would not give his consent to something which would undermine the country's territorial integrity.

Dačić also said that Serbia will continue to exist on December 10 and that 'Serbia or the EU' dilemma is artificial, because Serbia is the most important.

He noted that the country is ready to continue its constructive relations with Priština and the EU, but that it is debatable whether this would be enough for a positive decision to be reached.

"Risk reducing"

Ruling Democratic Party (DS) Vice President Dušan Petrović said on Thursday Serbia's EU integration would reduce the risk of destabilization in the country and entire Southeastern Europe.

"If the EU integration slows down or stops, we will enter the zone of political instability. I see no other way for Serbia to be politically stable than to go towards the EU as fast as possible," Petrović noted.

According to him, without progress towards the EU, "there is a large risk of Serbia entering a process in which conservative forces, which tend to use nationalism as a weapon, could become the key political factor again."

"That is not good," said Petrović, who is also the minister of agriculture, trade, forestry and water management.

It is in EU's best interest that Serbia gets the candidate status, he pointed out.

Serbia has done everything necessary for a positive decision and should get the status because of it, he believes.