Catherine Ashton

BELGRADE - Outgoing EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said on Monday in a letter to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic that thanks to his political courage and statesmanship, the Western Balkans region is a better place today.

Outgoing EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva is the Bulgarian contender to take over the EU's foreign policy, Prime Minister Oresharski announced in Brussels.

BRUSSELS - EU observers will monitor the parliamentary elections in Kosovo set for June 8, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton's office issued a release on Tuesday.

EU pledges to assist Serbia's accession process

The government will tackle three fundamental accession tasks: reforms, economic measures and normalising relations with Pristina.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton (left) meets Serbia Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. [AFP]

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton demanded an independent probe to establish those responsible for the violence that left over forty dead on Friday in Odessa, Ukraine.

On Friday, clashes between pro- and anti- government protesters in Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa killed at least 42 people and left over 125 injured.

Ashton was "not completely honest," says analyst

BRUSSELS -- Catherine Ashton's visit to Serbia represents "an unusually strong expression of support for the new government and the country's EU integration."

This is the conclusion of two Brussels-based political analysts who spoke for the Tanjug news agency on Friday.

BRUSSELS - EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele announced on Wednesday that he will visit Belgrade next Monday.

EU commissioner announces trip to Belgrade

BRUSSELS -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule announced in Brussels on Wednesday that he will visit Belgrade on Monday, May 5.

Fule also said that he will visit Priština the same day.

Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, met Serbia's new Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Aleksandar Vucic and Ivica Dacic, in Belgrade on Monday.

“I am absolutely delighted that I was able to make a special visit to Serbia today, to have the opportunity to congratulate you in person and to talk about the work that lies ahead,” she said.

BELGRADE– Serbia’s chief negotiator in accession talks with EU Tanja Miscevic said that European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton came to Belgrade Monday to offer support for the new government and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in the process of European integration and in tough economic reforms ahead.