On 5 November Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn met with the Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.

This meeting gave them an opportunity to discuss the findings of the recently published Commission progress report on Serbia.

Commissioner Rehn commended the Serbian Government, the Parliament and civil society for making concerted efforts in driving the reform process forward.

He also reiterated the Commission's view expressed in its enlargement strategy that the Interim Agreement should be unblocked on the basis of progress made by Serbia.

On the same day, Commissioner Rehn also met Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community during his visit to Brussels, on his request. Main subject of the meeting were recent developments in the Cyprus settlement talks.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn has stated that he hopes that Serbia, FYRMacedonia and Montenegro will be included in the White Schengen list already as of December 19, before Christmas holidays, which imply a spirit of good will.

I hope that this good will will be able to be expressed in this situation as well, Rehn said at a news conference in Brussels, commenting on Slovenia's initiative that visas for Serbian citizens should be abolished already as of December 19, 2009, instead of January 1, 2010.

In view of the Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic's announcement that Serbia will submit an application for EU candidacy by the end of the year, Rehn said that he respects Serbia's sovereignty when it comes to such an important decision, the German radio Deutsche Welle reports. The position of the European Commission is that the EU's Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia should be unblocked, Rehn underscored.

According to him, it is very important that Serbia has already implemented the Interim Trade Agreement. The way that Serbia does this proves that the country is capable of handling the obligations that accession processes require, he added.

"A country's progress towards the EU membership is the job of the entire nation, and in order for it to be successful, it must be based on a broadest possible concensus, Rehn pointed out, adding that he is particularly pleased to see an increase of interest in European values and stronger relations with the EU in Serbia.