Foreign Secretary welcomes Serbia鈥檚 EU Progress
William Hague welcomed today鈥檚 European Council decision to start EU accession negotiations with Serbia in January, an important milestone.
The Foreign Secretary said:
I welcome the EU鈥檚 decision to open accession negotiations with Serbia. Serbia鈥檚 leadership has shown sustained political will and taken concrete steps to improve relations with Kosovo.
The UK remains a strong supporter of EU enlargement to all the countries of the Western Balkans, including both Serbia and Kosovo, and Turkey. Enlargement benefits the UK. Expansion of the single market means greater prosperity for Britain. And stability in the Western Balkans means greater security for the UK.
Serbia opening EU accession negotiations is an important milestone on its EU path. There will be many challenges ahead. The accession process for all countries is long and rigorous, requiring the further deepening of domestic reforms and the promotion of regional relations. Normalisation of Serbia鈥檚 relations with Kosovo will be a yardstick throughout this process and full normalisation will be required before Serbia joins the EU. But the negotiations will also bring increasing stability and prosperity to the people of Serbia.
Further information
Follow the Foreign Secretary on twitter
Follow the Foreign Office on twitter
Follow the Foreign Office on and