Serbs closer to get date for EU talks after Brussels meeting

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic on Friday said, "Serbia is closer to get a date from the EU for accession negotiations" following his meeting Thursday with Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in Brussels, brokered by the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. Speaking at the joint press conference after his meeting with the Head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Southeast Europe Eduard Kukan at the Prime Ministerial Office in Belgrade, Dacic said they agreed at the Brussels meeting on appointing a police chief to northern Kosovo and on the local elections planned to be held on November 3, noting that Serbs living in Kosovo can vote with their Serbian identity cards. "Serbia is closer to get a date from the EU for accession negotiations after the meeting in Brussels. I hope we will soon get a date for starting EU accession negotiations. Otherwise, the reliability of the EU will become questionable," he added. Head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Southeast Europe Eduard Kukan said the Serbian government had taken key steps towards EU accession, highlighting his hope for Belgrade to get a firm date to start negotiations with the EU as soon as possible. He said EU High Representative Ashton had sent a letter to EU members on the progress made in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.