Belgrade - Serbia, whose path to European Union (EU) membership is being blocked by its inability to bring war criminals to justice, voiced "strong satisfaction" with the European Commission's enlargement report that urges closer trade ties with the Balkan country.

"Serbia made clear progress towards achieving its central strategic priority, the membership of the EU," Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said. "Serbia's will to join EU is not questioned anymore."

In 2008, the EU suspended a free-trade agreement with Serbia over its reluctance to arrest the fugitive Serb general Ratko Mladic, wanted by the United Nations war crimes tribunal for a genocide trial for his actions during the 1993-95 Bosnian war.

But the report does not mean that Holland, which opposes any further leeway to Serbia before Mladic is arrested, would allow the unfreezing of the agreement. (dpa)