EU foreign ministers at the General Affairs Council stated today that Serbia fulfils the necessary criteria to be given official candidate status. Despite reservations by Romania, it is widely expected that EU leaders will confirm this later this week, at the 1-2 March summit.

ALDE spokesman on Serbia, Jelko Kacin (LDS,Slovenia) reacted to the news: "Serbia has fought hard for the status of candidate country and she deserved it.  With the recent breakthrough in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Kosovo is no longer blocked in regional cooperation. The dialogue has reached a positive momentum and we expect more positive results to follow soon."

Kacin concluded that Serbia should be more ambitious and needs to ensure a swift opening of the accession negotiations, and in particular opening of Chapters 23 and 24 (judiciary and fundamental rights and justice and home affairs) so the European perspective can be become more tangible to Serbian citizens.

He said "EU related reforms will bring a better life to the citizens, growth to the Serbian economy, as well as progress to the whole Western Balkans. Serbia is capable of making rapid progress. It is now time she gears up its integration efforts."

Jelko Kacin is rapporteur of the European Parliament resolution on the European integration process of Serbia to be voted in the Foreign Affairs Committee this Thursday.