EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule stated that the EC will send Serbia a questionnaire, which will mark the beginning of the Commission's work on developing an opinion on Serbia's readiness to gain the status of a candidate state for the membership in the Union, in November.

In a statement with Serbia's state-owned Radio-Television of Serbia, Fule evaluated that the EC might complete and publicize its opinion in the second half of 2011.

He said that the decision of the EU Council of Ministers is an important step for Serbia and the beginning of a major project for the Serbian government in the coming months. We will start work on the questionnaire this week already, said Fule, adding that some logistics details need to be completed first, and that he believes the questionnaire will be sent to Belgrade within the next month.

He also said that the EC plans to adopt on November 9 the annual report on Serbia's progress and recommendations that will have an effect on the development of an opinion.

Serbia's legislation and its implementation will be scanned through about 4,000 questions and secondary questions from various areas on which clear and comprehensive answers should be given.

Fule also evaluated that the opinion should be ready in the second half of 2011, adding that it will depend on the communication with Belgrade and exchange of questions and answers.