Italian FM Franco Frattini: “Time for Belgrade to apply for EU”

The time has come for Belgrade to apply for EU membership, and the application should be submitted “before Christmas”, Italy’s FM Franco Frattini says.

Frattini told the press that Serbia was on a path towards EU accession, adding that he hoped it would happen within a reasonable amount of time.

He remarked that the unblocking of the Interim Trade Agreement and visa liberalization were important signals to Serbia, stating that the Stabilization and Association Agreement could be unblocked mid 2010.