Serbia and Romania signed Thursday in Brussels a protocol on the status of minorities in both countries, Romanian national news agency Agerpres reported, citing diplomatic sources.

The agency noted that the signing of the protocol was triggered by Romanian demands at the EU General Affairs Council on Tuesday.

The document was signed by Romanian and Serbian Ambassadors to the EU, Mihnea Motoc and Roksanda Nincic respectively, Agerpres reported.

Romanian President Traian Basescu is to raise an issue of minorities at the EU summit of heads of state and government which is being held in Brussels. The EU Council is expected to grant Serbia the EU candidate status on Thursday evening, Agerpres noted.

At Tuesday's meeting of the General Affairs Council, Romania underlined the need for signing such a protocol on the status of minorities in Serbia and Romania, which would include the European Commission and OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, that would oversee Belgrade's efforts in implementing principles related to the protection of national minorities in line with the EU standards, the Romanian agency noted.

The Council encouraged Serbia to continue implementing all previous agreements in relation to the protection of minority rights, Agerpres reported.