Serbia has a strong chance of obtaining the EU candidate status this week, but full consensus on this issue has not yet been reached, the diplomatic sources in Brussels have stated.

After this morning's round of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe stated that full agreement has been reached regarding Serbia's EU candidate status, adding that there are no longer any oppositions.

However, other diplomats claim that, even though a large majority of countries support Serbia's candidacy, there are still certain reserves.

Germany positively looks upon Serbia's candidacy, but will declare its final decision on Tuesday, stated a European diplomat who attended today's exchange of opinions of EU ministers in Brussels.

Other diplomatic sources confirmed that no full agreement has yet been reached among the ministers, because certain countries such as the Netherlands are waiting for Germany to take a clear position, whereas Romania and Lithuania still oppose Serbia's candidacy, the first one because of the alleged discrimination against the Vlach minority, and the second one because it wants the position of chairperson of UN General Assembly that Serbia is also competing for.

Regardless of all this, optimism can still be felt in Brussels, as the Foreign Affairs Council will decide on Serbia's candidacy tomorrow, whereas today they only engaged in exchange of views.

Instead of Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Germany is represented by its political secretary, but Westerwelle is expected to arrive in Brussels Tuesday.

Agreement on candidate status for Serbia reached

French Foreign Minister Allan Juppe stated in Brussels on Monday that the foreign ministers of EU member countries reached an agreement to grant Serbia EU candidate status.

The agreement was reached on Monday, and today there were finally no objections, Juppe told reporters during a break at the meeting of foreign ministers, AFP reported.

The formal decision will be adopted on Tuesday and it needs to be confirmed during the EU summit which would be held on March 1 and 2.

Tanjug's diplomatic source: Germany and the Netherlands still without stand on Serbia's EU candidate status

Bildt: Serbia has met candidacy conditions

Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Monday that Serbia has fulfilled all the conditions for EU candidate status, but added the ministers will make their recommendation Tuesday.

I think Serbia has fulfilled the conditions for candidate status, Bildt told reporters in Brussels on Monday, ahead of a two-day meeting of European affairs ministers of EU member countries.

The Swedish FM also said he hopes the agreement which Belgrade and Pristina reached last week will open the door for Kosovo to start a contractual relation with the EU. This is of great importance to Kosovo, Bildt said.

Ashton, Tadic expect Serbia to get candidate status

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Monday they hoped the EU ministers will grant Serbia the status of a candidate for EU membership on Tuesday.

Ashton praised Tadic in a short statement for reporters after the meeting, commending him on his presidential vision and commitment to the European path and Serbia's progress. Serbia belongs in the EU, said Ashton, adding that she hoped the ministers will make a step forward on Tuesday.

An agreement reached in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina was the turning point in the efforts to move forward, she stressed. Pointing out that Serbia had come a long way from 2000 and the challenges and problems it overcame during that time, Tadic stated he expected a positive decision by the Council of Ministers.

He hopes Serbia will get the status on Tuesday, adding that it is not the end, but that Serbia deserves it. Tadic thanked Ashton for the compliments, commenting that it was not about him personally, but about the well-being of the Serbian people.

The president also noted he was happy about the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, as it enabled better life for the ordinary people.

The region has suffered a lot, but everything is being done to solve problems, which is particularly difficult in the current crisis, he remarked. Serbia shares the values of the EU and will stay on that path, Tadic asserted.