EU to examine Serbia’s bid to join bloc

SERBIA took a crucial step forward in its bid to join the European Union yesterday, when EU foreign ministers agreed to examine Belgrade’s candidacy, in reward for softening its stance on Kosovo.

The deal calls on the European Commission to offer its opinion on Belgrade’s bid to join the bloc, a first step in a country gaining formal status as an EU candidate.

The commission is expected to issue its opinion in the second half of 2011, a diplomatic source said.