Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic stated that Serbia will most likely apply for EU candidacy around the end of the year, adding that state top officials will make the final decision in December.

In an interview for yesterday’s edition of the Vecernje Novosti daily Djelic said he expects a positive report from Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, which would state that Serbia has achieved full cooperation with the court, as is the case in reality, adding that this will be enough for the Netherlands to agree over Serbia’s application.

We are constantly doing our best to persuade this one country to change its stance. The only certain way is to extradite the two remaining Hague indictees. Then everything would be resolved pretty soon, Djelic noted.

He said Serbia is in constant contact with its European partners discussing key steps of its European perspective, including the talks about the most opportune date for submitting application for EU candidacy

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the ideal scenario would be to submit application after the Stabilisation and Association Agreement is unfrozen, noting that everything depends on Brammertz’s report.

He reiterated that Slovenia’s initiative that December 19, St Nicholas’ day, becomes the first visa free day for Serbia greatly appeals to him.

He also announced that on November 12 he will attend the plenary session of the European Parliament when they will give their opinion on visa abolishment for Serbian citizens.