Serbia Progresses towards Joining EU

European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (L) speaks with Serbia's President Boris Tadic during their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia on 18 February 2010. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Serbia has made a significant step toward joining the European Union, despite its failure to arrest most wanted war crimes suspect.

Foreign ministers from the 27 EU member states decided Monday to unblock Serbia's membership bid, even though it has not yet arrested Ratko Mladic, a former Bosnian Serb general, accused of genocide.

The breakthrough occurred thanks to the Netherlands, which dropped its previous blockade of Serbia. However, the Dutch government has made it clear that it could revive its veto at any point if Belgrade fails to cooperate fully with the war crimes investigations.

According to The New York Times, United Nations war crimes prosecutors believe that Mladic was the chief planner and organizer of the massacre of 8,000 Muslim men in 1995 in Srebrenica, which was under the command of Dutch UN peacekeepers.

The Monday's decision to pass Serbia's application for review of the European Commission reflects the desire of almost all EU member states to bring stability to the Balkans.

"Further steps will be taken when the council unanimously decides [that Serbia is cooperating fully with the tribunal in The Hague," foreign ministers said, as cited by The Guardian.

In the Dutch capital is located the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the United Nations court which has tried those held responsible for the atrocities committed in the conflict.

The EU foreign ministers also made clear that an important condition for the Serbian EU entry is its good relations with Kosovo, the southern province which declared independence two years ago and which Serbia refused to accept.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!