EU "not demanding Kosovo recognition"

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule has said that the EU was "completely committed to the enlargement process". Serbia is on a good way to get the EU membership candidate status "if it makes further progress in its dialogue with Pristina on technical issues, without any new conditions to meet", said he. EU "not demanding Kosovo recognition" EU member states now expect Serbia to strengthen the results achieved in the dialog so far, including reaching the agreement on inclusive regional cooperation, with the aim of obtaining the candidate status, Fule said for Monday's edition of the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti. To make it clear, the European Commission is neither in a position nor it intends to impose recognition of Kosovo's independence on Serbia, Fule said. Stressing that he would rather not go into specific points of the Belgrade-Pristina dialog concerning formulas that might ensure the principle of inclusive regional cooperation is fully implemented, Fule said he is encouraged by the fact that both sides have taken steps toward a practical and balanced compromise solution. Asked if the decision to postpone Serbia's candidate status until March 2012 and accession talks with Montenegro until June is a sign the EU is experiencing enlargement fatigue, Fule answered - quite the opposite! This European Council was, in my opinion, very special for the EU enlargement policy, and not only because of the ceremony of signing the accession treaty with Croatia. The fact that Serbia and Montenegro were at the top of the summit agenda, in the midst of the worst financial crisis the EU has faced since its inception, testifies that the enlargement process is moving forward, Fule said. He stressed the European Council was very specific and clearly set dates - the decision should be made at the General Affairs Council on February 28 and adopted at the European Council on March 1. I am convinced the Council's decision, if Serbia remains fully engaged and continues to build on what it has already achieved, especially in the dialogue with Pristina, should be positive, Fule concluded. (Tanjug, file)

EU "not demanding Kosovo recognition"

EU member states now expect Serbia to strengthen the results achieved in the dialog so far, including reaching the agreement on inclusive regional cooperation, with the aim of obtaining the candidate status, Fule said for Monday's edition of the Belgrade-based daily Večernje Novosti.

To make it clear, the European Commission is neither in a position nor it intends to impose recognition of Kosovo's independence on Serbia, Fule said.

Stressing that he would rather not go into specific points of the Belgrade-Priština dialog concerning formulas that might ensure the principle of inclusive regional cooperation is fully implemented, Fule said he is encouraged by the fact that both sides have taken steps toward a practical and balanced compromise solution.

Asked if the decision to postpone Serbia's candidate status until March 2012 and accession talks with Montenegro until June is a sign the EU is experiencing enlargement fatigue, Fule answered - quite the opposite!

This European Council was, in my opinion, very special for the EU enlargement policy, and not only because of the ceremony of signing the accession treaty with Croatia. The fact that Serbia and Montenegro were at the top of the summit agenda, in the midst of the worst financial crisis the EU has faced since its inception, testifies that the enlargement process is moving forward, Fule said.

He stressed the European Council was very specific and clearly set dates - the decision should be made at the General Affairs Council on February 28 and adopted at the European Council on March 1.

I am convinced the Council's decision, if Serbia remains fully engaged and continues to build on what it has already achieved, especially in the dialogue with Priština, should be positive, Fule concluded.