EU tells Serbia to get serious about reforms

(BELGRADE) - EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele told Serbian officials Tuesday to get serious about reforms that need to be implemented before the country can get the green light for EU candidacy.

"It is not the time to speculate right now on what the conclusions of the opinion (of the European Commission) are going to be," Fuele told reporters after meeting Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic.

"But it is indeed the time for all the stakeholders in Serbia to get serious about reforms that will lead Serbia to a high level in the enlargement process," Fuele said.

Serbia hopes in October to get a positive verdict from the European Commission on its application for a European Union membership, submitted in late 2009.