(BELGRADE) - The European Commission Wednesday outlined a list of conditions Serbia needs to fulfil to ease the visa regime for nationals visiting EU nations.

The move came ahead of weekend parliamentary elections triggered by the collapse of a coalition government following Kosovo's independence.

Sunday's vote is being seen as a referendum of the Balkan country's membership of the European Union.

"We want to liberalise the visa regime but there are a number of conditions that should be fulfilled," Jacques Barrot, the commission's deputy chairman told AFP.

Barrot said the EU move should "show to the Serbs that Europe is here and anxious to have a narrow cooperation without interfering in Serbia's internal affairs."

He said the conditions include "anti-terrorism measures" as well as steps to fight graft, illegal immigration and organised crime; stepped up border controls and the introduction of biometric passports.

"Certain conditions have already been partially implemented. The Serbian government has already prepared biometric passports and an accord with Europol," said Barrot.

Barrot visited Belgrade a day after 17 European Union country members decided to offer free visas to a majority of Serbian citizens: journalists, students, athletes, people visiting family or employed by firms in the bloc.

Last week, the EU signed a pact on closer ties with Serbia, setting aside disputes over Kosovo's independence and Belgrade's failure to catch war criminals.

However, the signing of the agreement -- considered the first step towards the EU membership -- was largely symbolic as Belgrade is seen not to be fully cooperating with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

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