The bilateral meeting took place during a Ministerial conference on refugees in the Western Balkans, where governmental representatives from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia adopted a joint declaration on providing lasting solutions for vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons.

In light of Serbia’s progress in effecting reforms, Füle said the European Commission had recommended that Serbia be granted EU candidate status without any additional conditions. The European Union wants representatives from Serbia and Kosovo to undertake negotiations in Brussels and to start implementing in good faith the agreements reached so far.

While both Belgrade and Pristina claim to be ready for bilateral talks, the notion of equality between the parties is an important condition for starting a dialogue. Prime Minister Cvetkovic declared his hope that dialogue with Pristina will resume soon, once the conditions of both partners are met.

According to the head of the EU delegation to Serbia, Vincent Degert, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue should address issues related to electrical energy, telecommunications and cooperation with EULEX.

The next developments in relations between the European Union and Serbia could come at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on the 14^th November in Brussels. If Serbia becomes an EU candidate country at the EU Council’s December summit, the next step will be the opening of accession talks.