EU wants trade and aid pact with Serbia

The majority of EU member states want to sign a pact on closer ties with Serbia to stop it from turning towards Russia, Czech European Affairs Minister Alexander Vondra said at the close of a Kosovo-dominated EU summit in Brussels. He said that with the EU supporting moves towards independence by the Serbian province of Kosovo, the block was keen to demonstrate that Belgrade has a future in Europe. If Dutch objections are overcome, diplomats said the trade and aid pact could be signed at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers on January 28 in Brussels.