Serbia's parliament overwhelmingly backed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union today, a move expected to cement the nation's bid towards ultimate membership of the union.
The pact, which will be fully implemented only when EU officials are satisfied Serbia has fully cooperated with the war crimes tribunal in the Hague, was ratified in the 250-seat parliament, with 139 deputies in favour and 26 against the document.
Closer ties with the EU, which had backed the independence of Kosovo, led to the fall of the government in March with nationalists seeking to annul the accord and freeze Serbia's EU membership bid until the EU revokes recognition of Kosovo.