Serbia blocks signing of cooperation deal with EU: Brussels

Wed Feb 6, 10:00 AM ET

The European Commission announced Wednesday that the planned signing of a cooperation deal with Serbia this week had been scrapped, deploring the "obstruction" of Serbia's prime minister.

"I very much regret we have to postpone tomorrow's signing of the political agreement, of course the EU commitment is firm and the invitation remains on the table," EU Enlargement Commisioner Olli Rehn told reporters after discussions on Serbia in the EU's executive Commission.

He said he regretted "the obstruction by certain politicians in Belgrade in blocking the signature," in a clear reference to nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who opposes rapprochement with the EU and sees the overtures as a sop ahead of an expected declaration of independence from Kosovo.

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