THE EU TO SIGN A STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH SERBIA

The European Union is to sign a pact on closer ties with Serbia. The so-called Stabilisation and Association Agreement is a first step to future EU membership, Euronews reported. The move had been opposed by the Netherlands and Belgium who've called on Belgrade to do more to catch war crimes suspects.                                                                    

But Luxembourg's Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn says it is really important to make a gesture that shows Europe is open to welcome Serbia: "If it wants to co-operate, if it one day wants to become European, it's important we give a strong sign that it's possible," he added.

The EU takes this important step before the May 11 parliamentary election in the hope of preventing nationalist radicals from winning as a result of public anger over Kosovo's largely Western-backed secession. Serbia's government collapsed over the issue and opinion polls have put President Boris Tadic's pro-European reformers well behind the parties backing defeated nationalist presidential candidate, Tomislav Nikolic.