Serbia cleared a crucial hurdle in its bid to join the European Union (EU) last night (October 25, 2010) when the bloc agreed to examine Belgrade's candidacy, the Australian website reports today.
This was seen as a reward for Serbia's softened stance on Kosovo.
But the deal demanded stepped-up co-operation from Belgrade with the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia, and specified renewed efforts to arrest Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic and Serb Croat rebel leader Goran Hadzic.
"It's the start of the process," to joining the 27-nation bloc, said Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere, after counterparts rubber-stamped a deal worked out after weeks of wrangling.
Belgrade applied for EU membership last December, but won support for its bid only after agreeing last month to start a dialogue with Kosovo.
Kosovo was a province that seceded from Serbia in February 2008. Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo as an independent nation, but has agreed to an EU-brokered dialogue with Pristina.
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