EU foreign ministers approved candidate status for Serbia

EU foreign ministers on Monday approved a first key step in Serbia’s bid to join the European Union, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.

“There was an agreement today,” Juppe told journalists during a break in ministerial talks in Brussels.

A formal decision to grant Serbia candidate status is to be given by European Affairs ministers on Tuesday, with an EU summit to deliver the final verdict on March 1 and 2.

“At last there were no further objections today,” Juppe said.

“This will encourage Belgrade to progress on its path towards rapprochement with the EU” although he said there is “still ground to cover”.

Several European Union foreign ministers spoke out in favour of backing Belgrade’s long drive to join the 27-member club.