Serbia is set to be granted European Union candidate status this week, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Monday, noting that no "objections" had been raised at a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels, DPA reported.
The decision is to be formally taken by the ministers responsible for EU affairs on Tuesday and endorsed by EU leaders at a summit at the end of the week.
Juppe noted that an across-the-board consensus had already been evident at Monday's meeting.
"It's done. There was agreement today," he told reporters. "There are no longer any objections."
But at the same time, he warned that there remains "a long road" ahead before Serbia is given the green light to ultimately join the bloc.
"The status of candidate is not the status of member," he said.
Serbia has removed most of the roadblocks on its path to candidate status by stricking two deals with Kosovo on regional cooperation and border management.
Better relations between Serbia and its breakaway province is considered a precondition for progress by Belgrade towards EU membership.
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