French Minister of European Affairs Jean Leonetti has stated that Serbia will certainly become full-fledged EU member, and added that the issue is not debatable at all.

Serbia has already made significant efforts on its EU path, but there is still a lot to invest in regional cooperation, especially in the relations with Kosovo, he told the Friday edition of the Belgrade daily Politika.

In that sense, the renewal of dialogue with Pristina under EU, and the achievement of first results in scope of the dialogue will be the key elements based on which the progress in the field will be evaluated, Leonetti underscored.

He also said that the deadlines depend on Serbia's capacity to meet the criteria every candidate-country has to fulfill in order to be ready to face the challenges of EU accession.

These include set of legal, economic and political norms which should be fully implemented, which is a long but necessary process.

Leonetti underscored that, whatever the decisions may be this autumn, France will stay with Serbia in order to help the country advance on the path. The European Commission will submit the report evaluating the progress of states on the EU integration pathway on October 12, he added.

Based on the document and any other progress Serbia will make until then, the council of heads of state or government of the EU member states (the European Council) will reach a decision on possible future stages, especially regarding Serbia, Leonetti explained.

EU does not pose any obstacles on Serbia's path towards European integration, but rather follows the country's process of transformation and accession preparations, specifying what Serbia is expected to do and helping in the process of reforms, he concluded.

France against additional conditions for Serbia's EU candidate status

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said today after meeting with French Minister of European Affairs Jean Leonetti that Serbia can count on in this country’s support regarding candidate status for EU membership and setting the date to start membership negotiations.

Djelic said at a joint press conference with Leonetti that the French Minister assured him that there will be no additional conditions for Serbia's path towards the EU, adding that Paris will support Serbia's candidate status.

The Deputy Prime Minister told the Minister for European Affairs of France that Serbia recognises that there are conditions to be met on the road towards the EU, but also added that the conditions that were not set previously cannot be imposed now.

He said he expects the Agreement on strategic partnership between Serbia and France to be ratified by the end of the year in order to initiate joint projects such as building underground system.

Djelic also announced that the possibility of giving a building to the French school in Belgrade will be considered.

Leonetti said that Paris wants Serbia's entry into the EU, and that France does not want to set additional conditions for Serbia's candidate status for EU membership.

He said that France and Germany have some differences in viewing the issue, and announced that Paris will try to reach an agreement with Berlin so that Germany would not pose new conditions to Serbia.

France welcomes the progress made by Serbia in the fight against organised crime, corruption and areas of cooperation with the ICTY. Efforts must continue to meet all the conditions on the road towards the EU, but it is important that the joint will exists, said Leonetti.