BREAKING NEWS

EU holds out promise of review of ties with Serbia, Kosovo

BRUSSELS - European Union officials said the door to Serbia and its former province Kosovo remained open if their relationship improved, pledging to review their bids to strengthen ties with the EU in the next six months.
Serbia hopes to start official negotiations to join the European Union and Kosovo wants to get working on a trade and financial assistance deal. But the EU is concerned about continued frictions between the two Balkan foes, which fought a war in 1998-99. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, which Serbia does not recognize.
"A visible and sustainable improvement in relations between Serbia and Kosovo is needed so that both can continue on their respective European paths," European affairs ministers from the EU's 27 members, most of which recognize Kosovo, said in a statement.