Serbia expects EU negotiations to begin in early 2012

Serbian President Boris Tadić said that he hoped the EU would set a date for the beginning of accession negotiations for early 2012.

According to him, Serbia is not asking for a special treatment from the EU and expects to be treated exactly as Croatia, which obtained the EU candidate status and a date for opening accession negotiations in 2004 even though Croat General Ante Gotovina, wanted by the Hague Tribunal, had not been arrested at the time.

The European Commission (EC) should publish its opinion on Serbia’s readiness to get the EU candidate status in October and the EU Council of Ministers will in December decide whether to grant the country the EU candidate status or not. Brussels could then set a date for the beginning of accession negotiations between Belgrade and the EU.