As the European Union continues its expansion into Eastern Europe and the Balkans , Serbia 's Prime Minister says he is `` certain '' his country will be the bloc 's next member . Ivica Dacic told CNN : `` We would like Serbia to become a member of the European Union as quickly as possible . '' Serbia is aiming to become the third country from former Yugoslavia to join Europe 's political and economic union , following in the footsteps of Slovenia and neighbor Croatia , who joined earlier this year . But Dacic believes Serbia does not have `` a lot of time to wait '' as its economy has suffered `` great consequences '' following the breakup of former Yugoslavia in the 1990s . Read more : Croatia looks to oil and gas fields in Adriatic Sea . `` The rate of unemployment is the biggest problem , '' Dacic said , referring to Serbia 's 25 % unemployment rate , which sits below only Spain and Greece in the EU . He added that `` discussing economic reforms in Serbia is futile '' until industrial productivity increases . Dacic also highlighted the importance of foreign investment to country 's economic prospects . Read more : Germany 's modest Mutti Merkel is no Iron Lady Thatcher . `` These foreign investments will not happen if Serbia is not a part of the modern world , '' Dacic said . Serbia 's economy contracted 1.7 % in 2012 , according to Eurostat estimates , due to its close ties with embattled eurozone nations . Serbia , which has a lower minimum wage than China , is also struggling to cope with an exodus of skilled workers , as the country 's young leave in search of work abroad . The phenomenon has left the country heavily reliant on remittance income . Read more : Croatia PM : We need Italy to recover . EU membership is a chance for Serbia to join the world 's largest trading bloc and will offer access to funding for infrastructure projects and the country 's poorer regions . But Dacic said : `` We do n't see the European Union accession as a straightforward financial aid package , or that it would enable our citizens to work in other countries across Europe . '' Despite Serbia 's ambitions , accession can be a slow process . Croatia only joined the EU as its 28th member in July after talks to join officially opened in 2005 . Read more : Did Croatia get lucky on EU membership ? Although the EU never gives specific time frames on accession , Dacic is confident Serbia will join Europe 's exclusive club within the next 10 years . Peter Stano , a spokesman for European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule , told CNN that the speed of accession depends `` solely '' on Serbia . He said : `` Serbia has already met the political and economic criteria needed to become candidate status and to start the negotiations . '' James Ker-Lindsay , a Balkans expert and author of 'Kosovo : The Path to Contested Statehood in the Balkans ' estimates that the process will take eight to ten years . He told CNN : `` It might well be the case that Montenegro , which has already started EU accession talks , is going to be the next one to join ... getting Montenegro ready for membership is likely to be easier . '' Serbia also faces questions over Kosovo , after it declared independence in 2008 . Serbia does not recognize the declaration , and the European Union is trying to encourage talks between the two sides . Dacic said : `` We have always made it clear that we can not and will not try to bring our problems to the EU with us . This is another reason why we are conducting this open dialogue in order to normalize the relationship and solve our problems before accession . '' Kosovo was plunged into war in the late 1990s , pitting Kosovo Albanian insurgents against Serb security forces and Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb paramilitaries . William Bartlett , author of 'Europe 's Troubled Region , ' believes EU membership for Serbia will help ease some of the political tensions with Kosovo . He said : `` By reducing political tensions , you are reducing country risk for investors and that will have a positive knock on effect for the economy . ''
In 2012 , the Serbian economy experienced negative growth of 1.7 % , according to Eurostat estimates . Serbian Prime Minister Dacic said : European Union budget is not financial stimulus money . Serbia 's growth rate is at 25 % , only Italy and Spain are higher in Europe .