Brussels, 17/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - As predicted (see yesterday's EUROPE), EU heads of state and government decided on Friday 17 December to follow the European Commission's recommendation and to grant Montenegro the official status of “candidate country”. The country is the fifth to have this status, after Croatia, Turkey and Iceland (which are already negotiating accession) and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which is still waiting for a date for opening talks. Giving Montenegro candidate status “underlines the conviction within the European Council that the countries of the Western Balkans have a European vocation”, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told the press after the meeting. A further unanimous decision at the European Council will be needed for triggering membership talks with Montenegro. This decision is not expected until the end of 2011 at the earliest. The Commission had in fact concluded its November report by saying that the country does not yet meet the criteria for entering accession talks. The next Commission report will be published in autumn 2011. (H.B./transl.jl)