EU sets conditions for Serbia candidacy

BRUSSELS, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says it "would be possible" for Serbia to be considered for EU membership by next year if conditions are met.

Among those conditions, he said Wednesday in Brussels, would be full co-operation by Serbian officials in the war crimes prosecution of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and the continuing search for war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic, the EU Observer reported.

Serbian President Boris Tadic appeared with Barroso at the briefing, saying he hoped his country could quickly gain "candidate country" status and perhaps be fully admitted to the EU by 2014.

Other differences between Brussels and Belgrade remain, however, ranging from trade issues to the status of Kosovo, the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported.

While most EU countries have recognized Kosovo as an independent nation, the Serbian government remains steadfastly opposed to bestowing such recognition on its former province.