EU set for Serbia deal on Kosovo

3.00.00pm GMT Sat 15th Dec 2007

According to the BBC European Union leaders are expected to offer Serbia a fast track route towards candidacy for EU membership. The plan is apparently seen as a way of stabilising the Balkans, with Kosovo set to declare independence from Serbia against its wishes. This, in my opinion is a bad move, it rewards bad behaviour Serbia has not acted responsible over Kosovo nor has it fully co-operated with the War Crimes Tribunal.

A draft summit statement says the EU is ready to play a leading part in ensuring stability in the region by stepping up preparations for a mission for Kosovo of up to 1,800 police, judges and prosecutors - the biggest ever undertaken by the bloc. It will also promise economic assistance to the Kosovans, and repeat that the future of all the Balkan peoples lies in the EU.