Spain close to finalising ratification of SAA with Serbia

The Spanish parliament has approved the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia and next will inform Brussels that the ratification procedure is completed, the daily Belgrade-based daily Danas reported on Wednesday (June 23rd), quoting Spanish Ambassador to Belgrade Inigo de Palacio Espana. He says Spain will be the first EU member to complete the ratification. Danas says Italy will likely be next, while Austria, Denmark, Finland and Poland will kick off the procedure this fall. Following a positive report by Hague war crimes tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz, EU foreign ministers invited the 27 member states to approve the SAA with Serbia on June 14th.