1. Serbia’s record in EU integration is uneven and generally far from good. Almost a quarter of the century after the end of communism, twelve years after the end of the Milosevic rule and fourteen years after the last military conflict it was involved in, Serbia is still very far away from the desired membership in the EU. It is merely a year old candidate for membership, currently trying to begin accession talks with the European Union. Some Western Balkan countries have even worse records of EU integration, and consequently less optimistic prospects than Serbia.

2. Among the reasons for such state of EU integration affairs in the case of Serbia, three of them will be explained in more details. First of all, the pressing issues of nation and  state building have for most of the post-Milosevic period consummated all available attention, time and energy of the nation and even more of its governments. The second reason that explains why is Serbia late in EU integration has to do with the prevailing mood in the country, and within all its post-Milosevic governments, vs. some key identity issues  (relation towards the legacy of the recent wars, including the war crimes, and the Kosovo status issue). Thirdly, the lack of clear strategic vision of the country’s elites contributed to the poor results of Serbia’s EU integration, as well.

3. The current crisis in and of the European Union is having serious impact on the prospects of the EU integration in the Western Balkans. Of special significance in this respect are economic crisis and the tightening of the criteria for further EU enlargement.

4. Finally, negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo will be discussed, as the most important condition for progress of both sides in EU integration, and as the opportunity for the major frozen conflict in the Balkans to be finally solved.