(ANSA) - BRUXELLES - Serbia has opened two new negotiating chapters to become a member of the European Union and its European perspective "is firm and real", EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, said at the end of the EU-Serbia intergovernmental conference in Brussels. The negotiation chapters agreed are number 6 (company law) and 30 (external relations), Foreign Minister of Estonia, Sven Mikser, announced.

Belgrade thus leads to 12 chapters opened in the framework of the negotiations with Brussels; two have already been provisionally closed.

"It is important to remember that further progress can only be achieved with substantial and tangible progress on rule of law and in the normalization of relations with Kosovo", Hahn pointed out. Furthermore, according to the EU Commissioner, Serbia needs to deliver on the independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression, the fight against corruption and organised crime, including money laundering. "With Serbia's commitment of Serbia I am confident that more chapters can be opened in 2018".

Serbia, however, failed to open all the chapters expected by the government, at least three. "We cannot be completely satisfied", "we were maybe too ambitious", said Serbia's European Integration Minister, Jadranka Joksimovic, who led the Serbian delegation to Brussels. However, she underlined, Belgrade, "the opening of these two chapters sends a message to all the possible investors: we are a stable country, with steady dynamics".

(ANSA).