Serbia clinched its coveted status of EU candidate country at a summit in Brussels last night (1 March), after Bucharest dropped its opposition following an agreement on a roadmap that should see Romania enter the Schengen passport-free area in September.
As Romanian President Traian Băsescu arrived at the summit, it was already clear that he had dropped his opposition to Serbia's EU candidate status.
The coveted status is a breakthrough for Serbia and opens the doors for accession negotiations, which may lead to full membership in the next five or six years.
"Green light for Serbia", Băsescu said, pressed by journalists at the Council doorstep.
