The Netherlands said on Wednesday it would seek to delay any decision over Serbia's further progress in its European Union accession talks unless Belgrade shows greater cooperation with the Yugoslavia war crimes court.

The European Council of Ministers will discuss Serbia's EU candidacy at a meeting on Oct. 25 as Serbia gains new momentum on its path to join the bloc after recently agreeing to negotiate with its former province of Kosovo.

If EU ministers disagree with the Dutch request to delay a decision, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said the Netherlands would then seek to ensure that full co-operation with the tribunal remains an integral element for joining the bloc.

"The Netherlands remains committed to complete co-operation with the tribunal. As long as the (tribunal's) remaining fugitives ... are not yet arrested and transferred to the tribunal, this will continue to impede Serbia's road to EU membership," a Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is based in The Hague and the Dutch have taken a harder stance than some other Europeans on Serbia's co-operation with the court.

The Dutch Parliament earlier on Wednesday approved a motion calling on the government to request delaying any decision on Serbia's progress towards accession next week until December.

In December, the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, will present a new report on Serbia's efforts to capture the court's two remaining fugitives, including former Serbian army general Ratko Mladic.

Brammertz, who has criticised Serbia's inability to arrest Mladic and has urged the EU to maintain pressure on Belgrade, met Dutch lawmakers last week and said giving more incentives to Serbia would improve its co-operation.

"But it's not on me to make a decision which political decision should be made to uphold those incentives," Brammertz said, referring to next week's meeting.

(Source: Reuters)