Herman Van Rompuy announced that decision on Serbia’s EU bid will be taken in February

A decision by the European Union on whether to grant Serbia candidate status will be taken by EU foreign ministers in February, EU president Herman Van Rompuy said Friday. 

“The clear aim is to grant Serbia candidate status,” Van Rompuy said, hailing “bold steps” by Belgrade in bringing in Balkan war fugitives and “first results” in efforts to improve relations with Kosovo.

Van Rompuy said the 27-nation bloc would continue to monitor Belgrade’s moves to help ease regional tension, with foreign ministers to hand down a decision in February, to be confirmed by an EU summit the following month.