Serbia and European Union to begin accession talks on 21 January 2014 - European leaders confirm decision of Council of Ministers

At a meeting in Brussels on Friday, chiefs of states, that is, the EU government, confirmed the decision of the Council of Ministers to start accession talks with Serbia in January 2014.

EU leaders also confirmed the negotiation framework - the mechanism and rules for accession talks with Serbia. As a country that will be holding the presidency of the EU as of 1 January 2014, Greece announced that it would schedule the first intergovernmental conference between the EU and Serbia for January 21st.

Slovakian President Robert Fico said Thursday, before the start of the summit, that Slovakia had always been in favor of Serbia`s admission to the EU.

- We want Serbia to be as close to the EU as possible - Fico told the press.

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said that Croatia wanted to be a "partner, and not a menthor of Serbia" on the path of EU integration. Hrvatski premijer Zoran Milanović rekao je da Hrvatska želi da bude "partner, a ne mentor Srbiji" na putu evropskih integracija.

- Serbia belongs in the EU - Milanovic said before the beginning of the summit, stressing that it was in the national interest of Croatia to have prosperous and stable surroundings.

Vlada Republike Srbije

EU Council of Ministers

Serbia admission to the EU

Serbia membership in the European Union

Serbia accession to the EU

intergovernmental conference

Greek government

Slovakian government

Robert Fico

Croatian government

Zoran Milanovic

Catherine Ashtone

accession talks