EU leaders approve Serbia as EU membership candidate

European Union leaders formally made Serbia a candidate for membership in the bloc tonight, in a remarkable turnaround for a country considered a pariah just over a decade ago.

European Union leaders formally made Serbia a candidate for membership in the bloc last night, in a remarkable turnaround for a country considered a pariah just over a decade ago.

Serbia had been widely expected to get EU candidacy in December after it captured two top war crimes suspects, but was disappointed when Germany delayed the move, saying it wanted to see more progress in talks with Kosovo.