Brussels, 13/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 13 October, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuc Jeremic called his Italian counterpart, Franco Frattini, to express the Serbian government's official apology for the violence caused by Serb hooligans on Tuesday evening during the Italy-Serbia football match in Genoa, which resulted in the match being stopped after just seven minutes. Jeremic promised that the Serb authorities would do everything in their power to bring those responsible to justice so that they might serve as an example, Frattini told journalists in Rome. The incidents, however, should not have an impact on the generally positive opinion held by Italy regarding Serbia's request to join the EU. “Serbia is coming out of a difficult phase and Italy will continue to accompany the country on its way towards Europe”, Frattini said. Serbia's candidature, put forward in December 2009, will be on the agenda of the General Affairs Council on 25 October, when it is highly likely the 27 member states will decide to invite the Commission to prepare its opinion (see EUROPE 10233). (H.B./transl.jl)