The Serbian authorities’ decision to call an early parliamentary election to be held on 16 March was taken soon after the launch of accession talks with the EU on 21 January. The government assumes the talks will be completed by 2018, and membership of the EU will follow two years later. Compared with Croatia, Serbia is better prepared for negotiations, but the key challenge for the government in Belgrade will be relations with Kosovo. Moreover, the Serbian authorities will have to conduct a range of structural reforms, with EU assistance and the possible participation of Poland.