European Union foreign ministers say they will no longer block a trade agreement and closer ties with Serbia.

欧盟外交部长称他们不再阻止与塞尔维亚的贸易协定以及更进一步关系的发展。

Serbia's EU hopes have been dogged by its failure to arrest Ratko Mladic

The decision came after the Netherlands lifted its opposition¹ to closer EU ties, ending an 18-month standoff疏远，冷淡.

The Dutch government had been blocking an interim临时的 trade deal, demanding that Serbia do more to track down追踪 fugitive³ Balkans war crimes suspects.

But the breakthrough removes a major obstacle障碍 to Serbia applying for full membership of the EU, analysts⁴ say.

Serbia's EU-accession hopes have been dogged by its failure to arrest the Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect, General Ratko Mladic.

The Netherlands had been blocking an interim² trade deal because it wants Gen Mladic handed over to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia南斯拉夫 in The Hague海牙.

But earlier this month the UN's chief war crimes prosecutor⁵ said Serbia's co-operation with the ICTY was "progressing".

However, in his report to the UN, Serge Brammertz said Serbia must continue searching for both Gen Mladic, the Bosnian-Serb military leader, and Goran Hadzic, who is wanted for war crimes in Croatia.