The German parliament on Thursday approved the prospects of Serbia opening accession negotiations with the European Union, with the possibility of a decision on the date to launch the talks to be made in January 2014, provided that the normalisation of the relations with Kosovo is evident until the December summit of the bloc, Deutsche Welle reported on Thursday.
"I am glad to be able to speak at the European Council of the possible start of negotiations on Serbia's admission to the European Union," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in the Bundestag.
"There is no doubt that in the recent months Serbia and Kosovo have made a decisive progress in the normalisation of their relations. But there is no doubt that the agreement must be carried out. Only the confirmation on the implementation can lead to (conclusions) in December that a first conference on accession may be scheduled for January 2014," Merkel was quoted as saying.
If the European Council confirms in December full and lasting implementation of the obligations stemming from the implementation plan adopted by Serbia and Kosovo on May 26, the accession conference could be held in January, reads a statement by the Bundestag, according to the Serbian Tanjug news agency.
