Djelic: Government by End Month, Entry into EU by 2012

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said on June 10, in Brussels, that a pro-European government should be formed in Belgrade by the end of the month and that Serbia would be ready to become a member of the European Union in 2012.

After speaking with Djelic, European Commissioner Olli Rehn said Serbia's plan to gain candidate status by the end of the year and then embark on membership talks was "ambitious, but attainable."

Rehn said that he had received Serbia's national plan for European integrations from Djelic, and described it as very professional. He added that he congratulated Serbian authorities on a plan so well-prepared, which testified to the professionalism and dedication of Serbia's state administration.

After meeting with Science Commissioner Janez Potocnik and Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, Djelic said support had been agreed on for Serbia to draft a science development strategy and that he had presented the outline of Serbia's law on an anti-monopoly policy.

Source: beta news agency