EU grants Serbia candidate status

Serbia was last night granted a candidate status for the EU membership, it was announced in Brussels. European Union leaders thus accepted the recommendation given by the EU foreign ministers on Tuesday.

- This is an exceptional success and a result of efforts that both sides put into a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina - European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said at a press conference.

- I hope it will encourage Serbia to make further efforts to meet all political and economic criteria for the EU membership - the president of the European Council added, stressing he hoped that Belgrade "will continue to support regional cooperation and good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans."