Serbia to launch EU membership bid: PM

[Darsh]

AFP - Serbia has decided to apply for European Union membership, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said on Saturday, hopefully before the end of the year.

"The Serbian government has decided... to apply to join the EU," Cvetkovic told journalists. "We are now waiting for Sweden to tell us when this candidacy can be officially put forward."

Sweden holds the rotating EU presidency until December 31, after which it will handed over to Spain.

Belgrade said last month it would apply to join the bloc, but debate had been ongoing over the timing of the application.

Serb President Boris Tadic said that his country's candidacy had been discussed with officials from the 27-member bloc.

"A large majority of our European partners support us for putting forward our candidacy," Tadic said. "This is a great day for Serbia and its citizens. I'd like to congratulate Serbian citizens."

Tadic said that following Saturday's decision "no one can doubt the road that Serbia has taken: Serbia is going towards European integration."

Support for Serbia's bid among EU countries is mixed at best, according to a European diplomat, with backing from Greece and Italy but several key members -- among them Britain and the Netherlands -- more reserved.

http://www.france24.com/en/node/4952372

Do you think if Serbia is a EU member, it will solve definitly the problem with Kosovo?

[Lance-Corporal Jones]

http://www.france24.com/en/node/4952372

Do you think if Serbia is a EU member, it will solve definitly the problem with Kosovo?

Oh yes. Doctor EU's elixir solves everything, even ingrown toenails.

[Heinz Guderian]

Will EU membership change the fact that KOSOVA BELONGS TO SERBIA?

[Monarchist]

What nonsense. Membership in the E.U. solves no problems; it just leaves the old problems as they are and creates new ones. Instead of actually having a conversation regarding Kosovo, the Communist dictators in the E.U. will simply say "Nope. Bye." to Serbia's rightful and righteous claims. It does that to everyone, because it is evil.

[Heinz Guderian]

what communist dictators in the EU?

[Lance-Corporal Jones]

what communist dictators in the EU?

I think he means anyone who isn't an ultracapitalist.

[Syriana]

I think he means anyone who isn't an ultracapitalist.

I hear that some EU leaders are elected by democratic vote rather than hereditary ascension.

I mean, what the is that about?

[Monarchist]

I think he means anyone who isn't an ultracapitalist.

My friend, I thought you of all people would side with me. By "Communist dictators", I meant the collectivist, "Europe is one" sort of bureaucrats that mill about in the shadowy corridors of Brussels. They want to destroy individual European sovereignty (thus, a Commune - Commune-ism), and they dictate everything to those who "elected" them (dictators). Weasel words aren't just implied meanings, but literal ones, too.

what communist dictators in the EU?

Civil "servants".

-

Those who make jokes about my intense distrust of all governments must see it from my perspective. I believe government interference in most things is inherently self-serving, clandestine, and wrong. It is just my natural tendency to distrust what governments report, especially when they own (by law) all the higher educational institutions. So many people have this inherent trust of most things government bureaus and administrations say, as if it is God's truth and fact all the time. There isn't enough suspicion of them. The larger the government, in my little opinion, the the smaller the human beings under its governance. European Union = a tad bigger than Serbia; thus, I would prefer that Serbia commit to its problems on its own. It's just logical, if you know what I believe in.

[Lance-Corporal Jones]

My friend, I thought you of all people would side with me. By "Communist dictators", I meant the collectivist, "Europe is one" sort of bureaucrats that mill about in the shadowy corridors of Brussels. They want to destroy individual European sovereignty (thus, a Commune - Commune-ism), and they dictate everything to those who "elected" them (dictators). Weasel words aren't just implied meanings, but literal ones, too.

Oh, I see. Sorry, I mistook this for your usual accusations of the leaders of European countries being "communists"!

Well, calling them "communists" isn't all that accurate -- despite their mad love of regulations that makes them look like the Gosplan -- I'd rather say sleazy, corrupt, authoritarian plutocratic retired clapped-out ex-premiers.

[Monarchist]

Oh, I see. Sorry, I mistook this for your usual accusations of the leaders of European countries being "communists"!

Well, calling them "communists" isn't all that accurate -- despite their mad love of regulations that makes them look like the Gosplan -- I'd rather say sleazy, corrupt, authoritarian plutocratic retired clapped-out ex-premiers.

That's perfectly alright, my friend. I tend to use "Communist" more as the "Stalin"-type weasel word we are familiar with. Most if it is sarcastic, but the edit I just made to my post above yours is more explanatory.

Sleazy, corrupt, authoritarian, plutocratic... sounds like the natural highest state of Soviet Communism to me.

[Monarchist]

I love how the EU is the bane of existance, and more evil than hitler, stalin and pol pot combined.

Just brilliant.

The E.U. is most certainly not as bad as Hitler, Stalin, or Pol Pot, but it has the same beginning as any of them.

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

The E.U. is most certainly not as bad as Hitler, Stalin, or Pol Pot, but it has the same beginning as any of them.

A violent overthrowing of the existing order and then a series of bloody repressions an porogoms?

I see that happening across Europe right now...

[clandestino]

Everything that has Serbia in it is doomed to collapse one day, mark my words.

[Visna]

Everything that has Serbia in it is doomed to collapse one day, mark my words.

All the more reason to process the application quickly and welcome Serbia with open arms into the club.

[Lance-Corporal Jones]

I hear that some EU leaders are elected by democratic vote rather than hereditary ascension.

I mean, what the is that about?

Shocking, isn't it?

Everything that has Serbia in it is doomed to collapse one day, mark my words.

WELCOME, SERBIA!!!

[clandestino]

Meh, don't worry, Serbia will probably be the first state after Turkey who's request for membership got rejected.

[Visna]

Meh, don't worry, Serbia will probably be the first state after Turkey who's request for membership got rejected.

Not so sure about Turkey, but given your promise that if Serbia joins the EU the thing collapses, a rejection would make me a

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And on the topic, the EU has failed in solving the Kosovo issue so far, so I wonder what difference Serbia joining the club would make. Unless it's all a clever Serbian scheme to change things from within.

[Saxon wårolord]

I used to support Serbia.....
Of all those I've supported, Serbia is the most deceiving.

[The Noble Lord]

I used to support Serbia.....
Of all those I've supported, Serbia is the most deceiving.

So you don't support Serbia any more, why is that??

[clandestino]

WELCOME, SERBIA!!!

Unfortunately the process of collapse lasts for decades and at the end everyone ends up much poorer then in the beginning.
But the sad reality is that EU won't accept Serbia in without recognizing of Kosovo and since that's hardly possible Serbia has no EU future, and same goes for Kosovo. Although with the politicians we have in power right now I wouldn't be surprised if they actually start considering recognition of Kosovo.