BRUSSELS -- The European Commission is asking Serbia to harmonize its foreign policy - "a possible hint of pressure on us to impose sanctions on Russia," writes a daily.

Apart from the Ukraine crisis, Belgrade is also expected to align its policy with that of the EU on Iraq and Syria, the Vecernje Novosti newspaper writes. The European Commission will present a specific demand to this end, the article adds, and interprets this as "possibly meaning there will be increased pressure on Belgrade to impose sanctions on Russia." Along with "a list of Kosovo tasks," this would be "another condition set before our country by Brussels, on its path towards membership in the European family." EU member-states ambassadors touched on the subject last week while they were preparing the Council of Ministers meeting, and although it is mentioned in the conclusions only in principle, "it has gained considerable proportions." The European Commission has, especially for the occasion, prepared "special statistics" showing "nominally, decision by decision, how aligned Belgrade is with foreign policy positions of Brussels." "Serbia in this area has very poor results. On the issue of harmonization with EU foreign policy, it is the worst in the Balkans. Only Turkey has such a low percentage of alignment," said an unnamed source quoted by the daily, and also added that conversely, "the good student" was - Albania. According to these sources, Serbia and Turkey have backed only a few declarations, while Tirana, on the other hand, has up to 90 percent compliance. "It's not just about Ukraine and Russia, but also about Syria, Iraq and other issues," said a source and added that the EU will very quickly point out to this issue more seriously, because it believes it is high time to begin a gradual harmonization. According to the article, Germany was not the only country that insisted on this - instead, "most of the countries participating in the debate did." The newspaper's source also "explained how a country aligns with the EU": "The procedure is as follows: either a statement similar in content to what was already published by the EU is written, or it is just pointed out that the country in question agrees with a specific declaration, which the administration in Brussels then specifies in its document." EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Johannes Hahn said on Monday that Serbia will be able to open the first chapter in the membership negotiation process only after it implements all that is envisaged in the Brussels agreement. "A number of things remain to be implemented and I clearly explained it to the authorities of Serbia during a recent visit to Belgrade," Hahn said. He stated that the fact there was "no government in Pristina for a few months" was "no excuse for the delay in implementing those items that Serbia can do on its own."

No consensus

The European Union foreign ministers failed to reach "unanimous consensus" on Tuesday in Brussels to open the first chapter in the EU accession negotiations with Serbia, said the chairman, Italian Secretary of State Sandro Gozi, emphasizing that he was sure it would be possible early next year. "When it comes to Serbia, much has been done, and we are confident everything could be ready early next year, so that new chapters could be opened, primarily those discussed over the past six months," Gozi said at a press conference after the EU ministerial session. The Italian politician explained that a unanimous consensus was required for such a decision, adding that none was reached to open a new chapter in the talks with Serbia. The EU foreign ministers said in their conclusions that Serbia needed to rely on the recommendations by the European Commission and make an action plan to fulfill the requirements needed for opening Chapters 23 and 24. "The Council of Ministers recalls that progress in the normalization of relations with Kosovo, as provided by Chapter 35 (of the EU accession talks), needs to go hand in hand with the progress made in the general talks," the ministers said, and that it had to opened in the initial stage of the talks. The Council of Ministers asked Serbia to harmonize its foreign policy with the EU energy security policy, welcomed the progress Serbia made in reforming its judiciary and curbing corruption and organized crime, as well as economic and structural reforms, but also requested additional effort to strengthen the rule of law.