Serbia can still reach the finish line and win the status of EU candidate, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele stated in the seat of the EU during the Wednesday forum dubbed 'Friends of Europe'.

He noted that he is waiting to see the outcome of the Wednesday round of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue so that he could send a letter to foreign ministers of EU member countries as regards Serbia's candidate status.

He expressed expectation that the ministers would adopt an objective decision and added that although December 9 is close at hand, there is still hope.

We have not set conditions to Serbia for obtaining the EU candidate status, we recommended that the status should be granted to the country assuming that the dialogue would continue, Fuele said at the forum on the perspectives of the Western Balkans which gathered regional leaders and EU officials.

Stating that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is underway, Fuele said that Serbia can still reach the finish line and win the crown, that is, the EU candidate status.

This race is a combination of marathon and sprint, he noted.

Fuele commended Serbian President Boris Tadic on his call for Kosovo Serbs to withdraw from the barricades, and expressed expectation that this move would contribute to appeasement of tensions in the northern part of the province.

He also said that it is important for Pristina to draw up a comprehensive plan for northern Kosovo so that the situation in this part of the province could be normalised.

The EU official stated that certain credibility issues as regards EU enlargement process are present both in the public of both members countries and EU hopefuls.

He noted that this is why he sent a letter to foreign ministers of EU member countries in which he underscored the importance of setting the date of talks for Montenegro on Monday, December 5, and added that he would also send a letter regarding Serbia's candidate status on Thursday.

Foreign ministers of EU countries will voice their stands on Serbia's EU candidate status and date of accession talks for Montenegro on Monday, December 5, while the final decision would be adopted by heads of state and governments four days later.

Among other officials, the forum in Brussels was attended by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic, member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic and Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic.