EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said after talks with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic in Belgrade on Wednesday that the EU was willing to help Serbia in its EU accession process if Serbia was really determined to join the EU.
Speaking of Serbia's two strategic goals on the road to European associations, Fuele said that Serbia should keep up the existing positive trends in reform processes and that it should embark on a new phase of the process of its European integration.
Addressing reporters at a joint news conference held after the talks, Fuele pointed to the need to continue reforms and cooperation with the Hague tribunal and to develop regional cooperation, including with Kosovo.
Cvetkovic said he expected the ratification of the Serbia-EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement to start in May, so that in late 2010 or early 2011 Serbia could be given the status of an EU candidate.
Cvetkovic said the talks also focused on ways to find a technical solution that would make it possible for Kosovo to attend international meetings with a neutral status.
After meeting Cvetkovic, Fuele also met Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic who is in charge of European integration, with whom he discussed Serbia's European integration, regional cooperation, and Serbia's participation in drawing up a comprehensive EU strategy for the Danube region.
They also discussed a proposal to establish a technology fund for the Western Balkans, which is supported by most countries in the region, Djelic's office said in a statement.
By paying a visit to Belgrade, during which he was also expected to meet Serbian President Boris Tadic and government ministers, Fuele started his tour of Western Balkan countries during which he is also to visit Podgorica, Tirana, Sarajevo and Pristina.
