The European Commission can restart talks on an association agreement with Serbia because it is now showing it wants to fully co-operate with the Hague war crimes tribunal, the EU executive said today.
"The commission assesses that Serbia has now demonstrated clear commitment to full co-operation with the ICTY [ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia] ," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said.
"I can therefore confirm that the commission can resume negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia," he said.
Mr Rehn added that a date for resumption would be set once Hague tribunal Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte came back from a visit to Belgrade next Monday.
