EU Divided on Serbia's Membership Bid

The European Union is divided on the issue of Serbia becoming a Member States, despite Belgrade's progress in negotiations with Kosovo.

Next week, the EU will debate the possibility of aunching talks with Serbia about its accession, the Bulgarian Darik radio reported Saturday, citing AFP.

A draft declaration mentions June 2013 as a possible date, but there is no official agreement on it, an unnamed EU diplomat is quoted saying.

One of his colleagues, also speaking off-the-record, had said that it was unlikely to schedule an exact date as early as next week, when first EU foreign ministers, and later country leaders, are expected to discuss the issue.

The diplomats have further informed that France was inclined to support Serbia's EU bid, but Germany believes it would be premature to start negotiations.

The Prime Ministers of Serbia and Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci reached an agreement Tuesday evening about the cross border checkpoints between the two countries with two of them opening on December 10, and two more on December 31.

One of the EU conditions for launching talks on Serbia's membership is noticeable progress in achieving normal relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence, declared in 2008, and continues to see it as one of its provinces.

In March 2012, Serbia was granted official status of EU candidate-member.