Serbia to submit EU candidacy bid next week - media reports

Dec 20, 2009, 11:20 GMT

Belgrade - Serbian President Boris Tadic is expected to submit a membership bid for his country to join the European Union on Tuesday in Stockholm, Belgrade media reported Sunday.

The Serbian government on Saturday decided formally to submit a bid but said that the exact date would depend on Sweden which holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year.

Belgrade media quoted Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt who on his blog said the 'Serbian president is welcome in Stockholm on Tuesday to officially submit the bid to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.'

Media also quoted Reinfeldt as saying that by biding for the membership in the EU 'Serbia made a historical step.'

Belgrade media reported that, judging from the experience of other EU member states, it might take years for Serbia to join the EU.

The decision to submit the bid came days after the EU unblocked a trade agreement with Serbia and on the day that Europe allowed visa- free travel for Serbians, Macedonians and Montenegrins, 17 years after imposing visas amid the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

Of the former Yugoslav republic, Slovenia joined the EU in 2004 and Croatia is next in line. Macedonia is also a candidate but it is still unclear when the country will join the Union. Montenegro and Albania submitted their bids for membership but still have not received a final answer.