Miscevic: No territory has ever made EU bid, member states skeptical

BELGRADE - Serbia's European Integration Minister Tanja Miscevic said on Thursday Belgrade was watching closely the developments concerning Pristina's EU membership application, and noted that no territory that was not recognised as sovereign had ever bid for EU membership.

"It will be interesting to see how the EU will be dealing with that matter," Miscevic told reporters ahead of a conference that was also attended by Czech Ambassador to Belgrade Tomas Kuchta, whose country holds the EU presidency.

Serbia is watching closely the positions of EU member states, Miscevic said, adding that the bloc's members were skeptical about Pristina's application and asking whether this was the time to discuss it at all.

One of the important facts they note is the fact it could disrupt the Belgrade-Pristina talks, she said.

Kuchta said that, as the current EU chair, his country had received Pristina's application and deferred it until the Swedish EU presidency, which begins on January 1.