Brussels, 25/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - During a meeting on Friday 25 November, the president of the European Council encouraged the president of Serbia, Boris Tadic, to take dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina forward, by “taking further steps to assure EU member states that Serbia is seriously engaged in the dialogue with Kosovo and that it is implementing in good faith the agreements reached so far”. Herman Van Rompuy pointed out that regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are “essential parts of the enlargement process”.
Van Rompuy also hailed the Serbian president's “personal engagement and determination” in striving to meet the economic and political criteria for membership of the European Union.
During the European Council on 9 December, member states will examine the Commission's opinion on progress made by Serbia. The Commission recommends candidate status for Belgrade. (CG/transl.jl)