If the political instability and bad relations in the ruling coalition continue, Serbia's strategic goal, that is achieving EU candidate status by the end of 2011, will be jeopardized, Director of the Government's EU Integration Office Milica Delevic has stated.

"The reforms envisaged by the Action Plan need to be realized by autumn, in order for Serbia to get a positive assessment in the European Commission's October report on the 2011 progress thereby recommending the country for the EU candidate status in December.

However this needs a political agreement," Delevic said, adding that political instability could endanger this goal. Delevic said for the Belgrade-based daily Danas that in these circumstances, the ruling coalition should realize how important it is to meet all criteria for the EU candidate status in the prescribed period.