Brussels, 13/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Union has welcomed the clear victory of pro-Europeans in the Serbian general elections on Sunday 11 May. The Democratic Party (DS) of President Boris Tadic won 38.8% of the vote (102 of the 250 seats in parliament), with the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) of ultra-nationalist Tomislav Nikolic gaining 77 seats in parliament. The DSS party of outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica won only 30 seats. To form a governing majority, Tadic's DS needs the support of at least one other party, most probably the Socialist Party (SPS, the former party of Slobodan Milosevic), which won 20 seats and which has already indicated its willingness to take part in the government. “The EU Presidency warmly welcomes the clear victory of pro-European forces at the Serbian general elections. It welcomed the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections, which were, according to the first assessment, carried out in a free and democratic manner. It hopes that a new government will soon be composed with a clear European agenda,” said the Slovenian Presidency on 11 May. “Provided that the necessary conditions are met …, this should enable Serbia to advance further on its EU path, including the candidate status,” the Presidency went on. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn was also confident that the incoming government would “pursue the country's reform agenda and its path towards the EU”.
In the European Parliament, the EPP, PES, ALDE, and Greens-EFA groups also welcomed the victory of the pro-Europeans. EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana also welcomed “the manner in which the elections were carried out”. He hoped that the government would be formed quickly and that it then would “mobilise the resources and the potential of the country in the direction of the EU”. He highlighted the need for a stable governing coalition. The Serbian parties “have to work for the coalition and the coalition has to be stable”, because it is better to “work with a stable government in order to move as fast as possible the development of the SAA” (Stabilisation and Association Agreement), he added. (H.B.)