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EU offers Serbia deal on Kosovo EU offers Serbia deal on Kosovo
(30 minutes later)
European Union leaders have offered Serbia a fast-track route towards candidacy for EU membership.European Union leaders have offered Serbia a fast-track route towards candidacy for EU membership.
The plan is seen as a way of keeping the Balkans stable, with Kosovo set to declare independence from Serbia, which has already rejected the "trade-off".The plan is seen as a way of keeping the Balkans stable, with Kosovo set to declare independence from Serbia, which has already rejected the "trade-off".
EU leaders, meeting in Brussels, also agreed "in principle" to send an 1,800-strong security force to Kosovo to support the existing UN mission. The leaders also agreed "in principle" to send a security force to Kosovo.
But no decision on recognising Kosovo's path to independence was taken. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the breakaway region's independence was "inevitable" but the leaders refrained from backing a unilateral declaration.
At a one-day summit in Brussels, the leaders stated that the current situation in Kosovo was unsustainable. At a one-day summit in Brussels, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said: "What we do now is undertake negotiations at the United Nations Security Council."
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates: "We took a formal decision to send an ESDP [European Security and Defence Policy] mission to Kosovo." The leaders stated that the current situation in Kosovo was unsustainable and that they had agreed in principle to send a civilian mission of 1,800 police and judicial officials to the region.
He described it as the clearest signal the EU can possibly send that it intended to take the lead role in the future status of the province. Mr Socrates, whose country holds the EU presidency, said it was the clearest signal the EU could possibly send that it intends to take the lead role in the future status of the province.
This was a sentiment echoed by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said: "Europe wants to manage the next stage in Kosovo in a pro-active and in a united way."
Luxembourg's foreign minister said the mission's deployment would not be "before Christmas but immediately after".
Conditions remainConditions remain
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says Europe is sending a political message of encouragement to Serbia, ahead of a presidential election next month where the pro-Western incumbent will face an ultra-nationalist candidate.The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels says Europe is sending a political message of encouragement to Serbia, ahead of a presidential election next month where the pro-Western incumbent will face an ultra-nationalist candidate.
Mr Socrates said the EU was confident that Serbia's progress towards EU candidate status could be accelerated, but only after Belgrade hands over the war crime fugitives still at large.Mr Socrates said the EU was confident that Serbia's progress towards EU candidate status could be accelerated, but only after Belgrade hands over the war crime fugitives still at large.
But the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic rejected any linkage.But the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic rejected any linkage.
Serbia, he said, would work on speeding up European integration but would never accept anything in exchange for Kosovo.Serbia, he said, would work on speeding up European integration but would never accept anything in exchange for Kosovo.
A majority of Serbs see Kosovo as an historic part of their country and the issue will play a prominent part in the run-up to the election.A majority of Serbs see Kosovo as an historic part of their country and the issue will play a prominent part in the run-up to the election.
Serbian President Boris Tadic has said he is not prepared to distance himself from the EU if it pushed for independence, even though he opposes it.Serbian President Boris Tadic has said he is not prepared to distance himself from the EU if it pushed for independence, even though he opposes it.
Some EU member states are against independence for Kosovo.Some EU member states are against independence for Kosovo.
Cyprus is the most strongly opposed, but Greece, Slovakia, Spain and Romania have all expressed concern about the possible repercussions for separatist movements elsewhere in Europe.Cyprus is the most strongly opposed, but Greece, Slovakia, Spain and Romania have all expressed concern about the possible repercussions for separatist movements elsewhere in Europe.
Following the summit, Romania's President Traian Basescu said: "Based on the principle of territorial integrity and inviolability, we cannot recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence."Following the summit, Romania's President Traian Basescu said: "Based on the principle of territorial integrity and inviolability, we cannot recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence."