Serbia becomes candidate for EU membership

Heads of state and governments of 27 EU member-countries on Thursday evening decided to grant Serbia the status of candidate for membership in the organization. The decision was made during a working dinner, on the first day of a two-day summit in Brussels. Serbia becomes candidate for EU membership Previously, the last hurdle on Serbia's path to become candidate for EU membership was removed when an agreement was reached with Romania on the issue of ethnic minorities. Romania's opposition to Serbia's bid was seen as surprising, and came after Germany was satisfied that the conditions it set before Serbia had been met. On Wednesday, the EU General Affairs Council, which is made up of the foreign ministers of all member countries, voted unanimously to recommend granting Serbia candidate status. The EU summit in Brussels (Beta/AP) "Accession talks as soon as possible" Although Serbia was made a candidate for membership today, the country was not given a date for the start of EU accession talks. Earlier in the day, the European Parliament (EP) called on the European Council to award candidacy to Serbia and to launch accession talks as soon as possible considering that Belgrade has fulfilled all the criteria set by the EU leaders in December 2011, Beta news agency reported. This was said in a draft resolution adopted by the EP Foreign Committee today, while Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin submitted an oral amendment "welcoming the crucial agreement in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue". Accession talks "should start as soon as possible, which would demonstrate the EU's commitment to Serbia's prospect for membership in the union", while "crucial priorities underlined by the European Commission in the opinion have been achieved and reforms are being pursued in Serbia", said the draft, expected to be adopted by the EP. B92 Beta Tanjug

Serbia becomes candidate for EU membership

Previously, the last hurdle on Serbia's path to become candidate for EU membership was removed when an agreement was reached with Romania on the issue of ethnic minorities.

Romania's opposition to Serbia's bid was seen as surprising, and came after Germany was satisfied that the conditions it set before Serbia had been met.

On Wednesday, the EU General Affairs Council, which is made up of the foreign ministers of all member countries, voted unanimously to recommend granting Serbia candidate status.

"Accession talks as soon as possible"

Although Serbia was made a candidate for membership today, the country was not given a date for the start of EU accession talks.

Earlier in the day, the European Parliament (EP) called on the European Council to award candidacy to Serbia and to launch accession talks as soon as possible considering that Belgrade has fulfilled all the criteria set by the EU leaders in December 2011, Beta news agency reported.

This was said in a draft resolution adopted by the EP Foreign Committee today, while Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin submitted an oral amendment "welcoming the crucial agreement in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue".

Accession talks "should start as soon as possible, which would demonstrate the EU's commitment to Serbia's prospect for membership in the union", while "crucial priorities underlined by the European Commission in the opinion have been achieved and reforms are being pursued in Serbia", said the draft, expected to be adopted by the EP.