Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated Friday that he believes the country will get the EU candidate status in December, as well as the earliest possible date for the beginning of negotiations on EU accession.

Opening the annual summit of the Central European Initiative (CEI) chaired by Serbia this year, the prime minister recalled that the European Commission (CE) gave positive opinion on October 12 about granting Serbia the EU candidate status.

The CE has a special role in the process of Euro integration, and in establishing stronger ties between all relevant factors in Europe, which contributes to a further development of political, social and economic relations in the region, but in the whole Europe as well, he said.

Cvetkovic pointed out that Serbia has put considerable effort into implementing a number of reforms, adding that a special accent was put on the adoption and enforcement of EU legislation.

I would like to stress that Serbia is dedicated to reforms, and not only because they are necessary for the EU accession. Our aim is, above all, to improve the entire legal, political and economic system for our citizens, he pointed out.

Cvetkovic also said that the country has devoted maximum efforts to promotion and achievement of goals of the Initiative - regional cooperation and a more complete inclusion in European development trends.

Also, many projects have been realized, especially in the field of economy, transport, energy, science and technology, education, agriculture and environmental protection, he said.

Cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development through CIE's special fund was very significant for the realization of the projects, he added.

Cvetkovic recalled the current world economic and financial crisis, and underlined that substantial problems, such as distrust of financial institutions, decline in economic activity and high unemployment rate, cannot be resolved separately.

He qualified as important that the proposal for CEI to obtain observer status in the United Nations (UN) is included in the agenda of the UN General Assembly.