25/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Council of the EU recommends the European Council give the green light to the opening of SAA negotiations. On 25 June, the General Affairs Council recommended opening negotiations for the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) with Kosovo. The negotiating mandate will be adopted officially on 28 June by the European Council, at the same time as the Council conclusions, said Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle. Once the mandate has been adopted, there will no longer be any obstacles to beginning the negotiations as soon as possible, Füle said. He stated that there is an ambitious mandate on the negotiating table: political dialogue, justice, freedom and security, economic and trade policy, and cooperation in a whole host of important areas. Belgrade and Pristina have made huge steps in normalising their relations, Fule said, adding that Serbia and Kosovo have fulfilled the conditions that were set at the December Council. (CG/transl.fl)