Spain, current holder of the rotating presidency of the European Union, says that it will do its utmost to make progress in integrating the Western Balkans into the bloc.
 
This emerged after a meeting on January 26 2010 between Spanish foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos and his Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremic.
 
The meeting in Brussels was the first political dialogue between the EU and Serbia at ministerial level since the government in Belgrade formally applied in December 2009 for EU membership.
 
Current European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also took part in the meeting which was chaired by Moratinos. 
 
"We have discussed the constructive role Serbia can play in the Western Balkans and how we can work together in a practical way with regards to Kosovo," said Moratinos, who believes 2010 will be a key year for the future of the region.
 
Rehn highlighted the achievements made in 2009 in relation to Serbia, particularly the implementation of an interim trade agreement (December 7 2009), the formal application by Serbia to join the EU (December 22 2009) and the granting of financial aid to overcome the recession (the EU will grant a second tranche of 50 million euro to Serbia in 2010 in the form of budget support, in addition to a loan of 200 million euro).
 
Rehn said that the European Commission is prepared to assess Serbia's ability to fulfil the conditions for membership, a necessary step before accession negotiations can begin. 
 
Moratinos said that "we are consulting with the (EU) member states and then we will ask the Commission to give its opinion".
 
He said that the Spanish Presidency will work to ensure that a decision is made in the Council "as soon as possible". 
 
Jeremic said that joining the EU remains his government's strategic priority and that his country will work with the Spanish Presidency, with the new European Commission and with the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, "in order to make 2010 another success for Serbia".
 
Jeremic reiterated his government's firm commitment to co-operate fully with the International Court of Justice in The Hague and with all those involved in the region and international organisations in order to make the stabilisation of the Balkans a reality. 
 
Moratinos highlighted the holding of a senior level meeting, possibly in Sarajevo, with all the countries of the region taking part and at which Kosovo will also be represented, among the priorities of the Spanish Presidency's work programme for the Western Balkans.
 
The Spanish Presidency will seek to conclude accession negotiations with Croatia and resolve the issue of Macedonia.
 
In addition, it will deal with the integration prospects of other countries in the region such as Albania and Montenegro, as well as Serbia. In short, it will work to stabilise the region, with particular emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to a statement by the Spanish EU Presidency. 
 
"We are moving forward towards a high degree of pacification and stabilisation of the whole region which is very positive for the Western Balkans and for all neighbouring countries," Moratinos said, referring to the enormous progress that has been made in recent years since the Zagreb Summit held in 2000.