"On Jan. 23, foreign ministers from the European Union voiced great optimism in Brussels that Serbia and Kosovo would continue to make strides in their relations with that 27-nation bloc," said EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

"I believe there is strong desire for Serbia to fulfill its promises to us, to continue the dialogue with Kosovo and make progress that will allow us to make a positive decision on its candidacy for EU member in late February," Ashton said after a session of the foreign ministers.

She also announced Robert Cooper, the European mediator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialog, would visit the two cities on Jan. 24.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said after the meeting that it was now key to apply the agreements Belgrade and Pristina had reached to date and resume the negotiations as soon as possible.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said his country's government was on board with Serbia's bid to join the EU, but that the conditions set by the confederation's leaders on Jan. 9 -- cooperation instead of conflict, must be met. If all the requirements are met, he said, there is a realistic chance that Serbia will gain the status of candidate member.

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said it was advantageous that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was discussing issues related to Kosovo with Serbian President Boris Tadic, stressing that the EU was also working on resolving them.