Brussels, 29/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle said again on Thursday 28 June that the EU hoped that Serbia will put in place a new “pro-European” government, prepared to continue to cooperate closely on enlargement process issues. That same day, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic announced that he had asked the Socialist leader Ivica Dacic to form a new government in alliance with his own Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Füle said he was pleased that a first step towards forming a government had been taken. He said that, if Serbia delivers on the key priority of agreements with Kosovo, set by December's European Council, the Commission could recommend opening accession talks at the end of the year.
The new Serbian governing coalition will be formed around the SNS, the Socialists and the United Regions of Serbia (URS) and will hold 131 seats, though the president indicated that other parties could join it. The Democratic Party of the outgoing pro-European president, Boris Tadic, is not expected to be part of the coalition.
The new prime minister has until 5 September to put his cabinet to the vote of acceptance in the country's parliament. (CG/transl.rt)