Director of the Serbian government's European Integration Office Milica Delevic stated Tuesday that the events in north Kosovo-Metohija will affect the opinion of the European Commission and the atmosphere within the EU member states which will be important for the final decision on Serbia's EU candidacy late in 2011.

According to Delevic, the EC is due to take a status-neutral stand since there is no consensus within the EU on whether or not Kosovo is a state. However, the EC will certainly monitor the country's progress in terms of regional cooperation and other aspects that the EU insists on, she added.

“In that sense, as in the earlier reports on progress, the EC will present its opinion on the aspects that have been agreed within the EU, such as participation in the regional cooperation and the manner of interaction with all parts of the region,” Delevic stated for Radio and Television of Serbia.

Delevic believes that it is important for Serbia to get a positive opinion and to have such a political climate that would enable the country to capitalize on the opinion.