EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele has said that the European Commission will present its opinion on Serbia's candidacy for EU membership on Oct. 12, and urged the authorities in Belgrade to resume reforms in key sectors, and especially the justice system.

In an interview with the Vecernje Novosti daily on Feb. 19, Fuele announced that the European Commission would dispatch expert missions to Belgrade in the comings weeks and months, to compare the actual situation with the answers on its questionnaire.

The Commission is currently examining the answers. Additional questions could be ensue after the assessment, on aspects that might require elaboration, Fuele said.

The commissioner also stressed that judicial reforms needed to resume to keep building the justice system, to ensure its independence and efficient law enforcement.

Fuele also said judiciary reforms were a key priority, adding that the European Commission was zeroing in on the steps that Serbia was taking in that regard.