The European Union opens the first chapters in negotiations with Serbia

On 14 December 2015, the European Union opened the first two of thirty-five chapters in its accession negotiations with Serbia. These concerned financial control (chapter 32) and the normalisation of relations with Kosovo (chapter 35). The EU granted Serbia candidate status in March 2012; in June 2013 the European Council decided to open negotiations, which were formally launched in January this year. Typically, this stage of the accession process lasts much less time; in the case of Montenegro, it took just a year and a half from receiving the status of candidate to the opening of negotiations. The main reason for the delay was the link between progress in the accession process and the normalisation of Serbia’s relations with Kosovo.

ESO: Background information: Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association process http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-enlargement-and-stabilisation-and-association-process/

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