The feasibility study implies that Serbia-Montenegro is sufficiently prepared for the start of the talks on the SAA.
"The Commission recommends the opening of negotiations and will accordingly present a draft mandate. However, in order to proceed through the various stages of the process, both before and during the negotiations, Serbia and Montenegro must continue to improve its co-operation with the ICTY until all its obligations have been met," reads a press release issued by the EC on Tuesday.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn was quoted as saying that "this is the beginning of the European road for Serbia and Montenegro. The country has achieved a great deal over the past few years, and it is time to move on. I welcome the agreement concluded last week on the Constitutional Charter, which ensures the legitimacy of the State Union Parliament. I am glad that Serbia and Montenegro has finally made significant progress in co-operating with the Hague Tribunal. So far this year, a dozen persons indicted for war crimes have boarded the plane to The Hague."
"This trend must continue and be reinforced until none of the remaining indictees is still at large. Accession negotiations proper cannot even be considered until the country has achieved full co-operation with ICTY. With the 10th memorial of Srebrenica approaching in July, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic must be brought to justice. That is the only way to achieve reconciliation and move forward towards EU accession," Rehn added.
The SAA will establish the first contractual relationship between Serbia and Montenegro and the European Union.