BELGRADE, Serbia, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Serbia's application for membership in the European Union will be submitted no later than the end of this year, Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Delic said.
Delic said he hopes to have the application submitted as soon as next month, Serbian broadcaster B92 reported Monday.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council was to meet Monday and could discuss sending Serbia's application to the full EU, the report said.
Delic said a Council of Europe meeting between presidents and prime ministers scheduled for this week would confirm Serbia's worthiness as a member of the EU, B92 said.
France voiced support for Serbia's admission to the 27-member union.
"France wants this to happen soon. We have always underscored that we believe that the request for an opinion was only a technical act," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.
