Serbia will apply next week to join the European Union, a Serbian government official said.

The intention to apply for candidacy for the European Union was issued in a statement by the Presidency of the Republic of Serbia, Serbian media reported.

The media also says that the application will be made on Tuesday and that the formal request would be made to the Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Sweden currently chairs the European Union.

Serbian Serbian Council for EU Integration is meeting today to approve the specifics of the application including the date.

Tadic is taking part in that meeting and he said that the meeting will decide on the application date.

“These days I had many bilateral meetings. I met 30 leaders, some of whom are European officials. I heard their opinion and I will present all that to the meeting of the Government where we will decide on when will Serbia apply for the candidacy,” said Tadic.

European Parliament MP and EP Rapporteur on the visa liberalization for the Balkans, Tanja Fajon, said Friday that she supports Serbia to file the EU candidacy application in the following few days.

“Serbia has received much good news from Brussels in the last weeks and I am certain that Belgrade will recognize the right moment for the candidacy filling,” Fajon said.

She said that over 20 EU member states support Serbia’s immediate application.

Italy’s Foreign Affairs Minister Franco Frattini also voiced encouragement to Serbia to submit its application for the status of a EU candidate state.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic predicts quick membership.

“Serbia is getting ready to be one of the countries that quickly go through the procedure from filling a membership application to acquiring a formal status of a candidate,” Djelic said.

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For further information: Serbianna