Serbia formally submitted its application to become part of the European Union and to end years of international isolation today, the BBC reported.

Serbian President Boris Tadic. Photo credit: Demokratska Stranka

Serbian President Boris Tadic. Photo credit: Demokratska Stranka

Serbian president Boris Tadic and prime minister Mirko Cvetkovic signed the formal application for full membership of the EU on Saturday; Tadic presented the application to Sweden’s prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt today. Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt told the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje novosti on Sunday that Sweden, which is currently holding the EU rotating presidency, is ready to accept Serbia’s bid.

The move comes after a successful step forward in Serbia’s foreign affairs: Last week, the EU dropped a visa requirement that had prevented millions of Serbs and former Yugoslavs from free travel in Europe for nearly two decades, The Independent reported.

However, Belgrade still has hurdles to overcome in order to be part of the EU. The Netherlands, among other EU nations, has expressed concerns over Serbia’s failure to capture Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic and former Goran Hadzic, who were indicted on charges of war crimes in Croatia by the UN war crimes tribunal, the BBC reported. The Dutch are holding up the next stage of Serbia’s application process, pending the extradition of Mladic.

The chief prosecutor in the war crimes case is expected to file a report next June; if the assessment is positive, the Netherlands may, as the BBC reported, “soften” and Serbia’s chances of becoming a full member of the EU will boost significantly.

The BBC reports that it may take up to four years before Serbia is approved; The Guardian, however, says that analysts say that it might take up to 10 years for Serbia to become member.

President Tadic is optimistic about his country’s candidacy. He told Serbia’s Beta Press: “We have very partner-like and open relations even with the countries that have shown slight reservations toward the submission of [our] candidacy,” adding that an “enormous majority, 95 percent of member countries,” are encouraging Serbia to submit its candidacy. According to Tadic, Italy has been one of the most encouraging countries in the EU to support Serbia’s candidacy.

Serbia is the last country of those that formed Yugoslavia to apply for EU membership: Slovenia has been part of the European Union since 2004; Croatia hopes to join the EU in 2011; Macedonia applied in December 2005; and Montenegro in December 2008, Le Monde reported.