The Dutch representative Maxime Verhagen maintained his position - the last remaining obstacle to the EU granting Serbia trade benefits - despite a positive report from the UN's chief war crimes prosecutor Serge Brammertz on Belgrade's cooperation.
The trade benefits are part of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) ratified by Serbia last week (EurActiv 09/09/08), which is seen as key pre-membership accord.
Many other EU member states want the SAA implemented as soon as possible. But, despite acknowledging the progress made by Serbia, the Dutch referred to the Brammertz report by saying "a lot more work is still needed" to capture the remaining suspects, most notably former general Ratko Mladic. "I did not find myself in a position […] that I could conclude that Serbia was now fully cooperating," Verhagen said.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuc Jeremic immediately dismissed the Dutch reading, saying: "Serbia's full cooperation with the tribunal exists […] and when we finish it, the Netherlands will have nothing to object to".
Talking to journalists in Belgrade, Serbian President Boris Tadic called on Mladic and the other alleged war criminal Goran Hadzic to give themselves up and "lift a heavy load from Serbia's shoulders".
EU ministers were keen to avoid putting Serbia off with yesterday's decision, raising hopes that an agreement could be found at their next meeting in October.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn reiterated his position that the arrest of Karadzic was "a milestone and should be recognised by the EU," urging Serbia to start implementing the trade deal “unilaterally" as this could "accelerate its European future".
Despite the Dutch veto, he stressed that Serbia could still become a full candidate for EU membership "under the best possible scenario and if everything goes according to plan" in 2009.
Jeremic immediately picked up on this, telling Serbian state television that yesterday's decision was "definitely not a big defeat, but just a delay of an unavoidable step, Serbia's full membership in the European Union".
