The General Affairs Council, comprised of ministers of foreign or European affairs, adopted conclusions on enlargement at a meeting in Brussels.
The conclusions say that the European Commission and the High Representative for the Foreign and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, will submit a report on Serbia next spring on the progress achieved in meeting requirements, notably with regard to a "visible and sustainable improvement of relations with Kosovo." The Council will consider progress in those areas with the objective of a possible European Council decision to open accession negotiations with Serbia.
The conclusions say that the Council will examine the report during the next presidency. Provided the assessment is positive, the European Council will invite the Commission to submit without delay a proposal for a negotiating framework and screen compliance with the acquis in the judiciary and fundamental rights, and justice, freedom and security. The Council took note of the Commission's intention to do all the preparatory work in that regard.
As for Macedonia, the Commission will also submit a report in spring 2013 on reform implementation and the steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations and achieve a mutually acceptable solution regarding the country's name in negotiations under the UN's aegis.
Macedonia was given EU accession candidate status in December 2005 but Greece, because of a dispute over the country's official name, will not allow the negotiations to begin. Now Bulgaria too is criticising Macedonia, accusing it of not running a good neighbourly policy.
The formulation adopted for Macedonia and Serbia was also adopted for the possibility of launching negotiations on the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo.
Earlier draft conclusions for Serbia and Macedonia mentioned June 2013 as the date when a decision on the launch of entry talks might be made.
Germany and the Netherlands were the most opposed to the mention of a date in Serbia's case, as were Greece and Bulgaria in Macedonia's case.
Austria was not satisfied with the result of the Brussels discussion and the conclusions either. It is the biggest advocate of launching accession negotiations and continuing with enlargement in the Western Balkans. The state secretary at the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Reinhard Lopatka, who attended the meeting, said "more could have been achieved, although this too is a step forward."
Croatian Assistant Foreign Minister Hrvoje Marusic, who also attended, said, "We hope the enlargement process will continue at a good pace. We support all the countries in the region in their efforts to become EU members as soon as possible."