According to a statement from a leader’s summit held in Brussels, Serbia is to be offered a “fast track” to European Union membership.

The European leaders also pledged to run the preparations fast for a police mission to stabilize Kosovo.

At the summit, EU leaders claim the negotiations on the breakaway Serbian province have been exhausted, the status quo has been deemed “untenable” and that a settlement of Kosovo’s future status is essential for Balkan stability.

However, the Serbian prime minister, Vojislav Kostunica disapproved what he perceives as a trade off between independence for Kosovo in return for EU membership.

Kostunica said that it was “particularly offensive and unacceptable.”

EU leaders said that once Belgrade meets the conditions to sign a first-level agreement on closer ties, “progress on the road towards the EU, including candidates status, can be accelerated.”

However, a draft statement didn’t highlighted support for Kosovo’s independence in light of differences among EU member states, with Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia and Romania.

The draft said, “The European Council agreed with the UN secretary-general that the status quo in Kosovo is unsustainable and thus stressed the need to move forward towards a Kosovo settlement which is essential for regional stability,”

“The European Council underlines that the EU stands ready to play a leading role in strengthening stability in the region and in implementing a settlement defining Kosovo’s future status.”

Kostunica said the EU’s comments were “particularly offensive,”

“Preparations [will begin] for a ESDP [European Security and Defence Policy] mission, and for a contribution to an international civilian office as part of the international presence.”