BELGRADE -- The European Union has defined what it seeks from Serbia, when it comes to Russia, as a matter of "solidarity or active neutrality," said Tanja Miščević.

Miščević heads the Serbian team in membership negotiations with the EU.

According to her, the organization "understands that our position is specific and that Serbia because of its foreign policy and economic interests wants to keep the situation where it will not impose sanctions on Russia, but it is ready to, by the time of entry into the EU, accept all the obligations arising from the membership, including foreign policy and security policy of the EU."

In a statement for the Belgrade-based daily Blic, she tressed that the country was "very interested in opening of the first chapters in the negotiations as soon as possible."

"At the moment we are fully prepared to open chapter 32 (financial control), but we also know and accept that no chapter can be opened until one of the three difficult ones have been, such as Chapter 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) , 24 (justice, freedom, and security) and 35 (Kosovo)," said Miščević.

According to her, it is "technically impossible" to open chapters 23 and 24 before February or March of next year, while when it comes to chapter 35, "we depend on the assessment of EU member states on the progress of the dialogue with Priština."

"It is in the interest of all parties that chapter 35 is opened as soon as possible, because it consists of monitoring the implementation of what has been agreed. I believe that will be opened by the end of the year. The first option is October, and then December," said Miščević.