Serbia's president formally submitted the country's application for European Union membership on Tuesday.

President Boris Tadic handed over the application to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the 27-nation bloc, in Stockholm.

Serbia's bid to join the EU has been held back by its failure to arrest Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb ex-general charged with genocide by the United Nations war crimes tribunal. Until he is arrested, the EU is likely to continue to delay Serbia's accession.

The process of admission is expected to take several more years.

The EU has recently taken steps to strengthen ties with Belgrade, re-opening a free trade agreement, and allowing Serbs visa-free travel to most EU member states.

Several other countries are also in the queue for EU membership, including Croatia, Iceland, Montenegro, and Turkey.

MOSCOW, December 22 (RIA Novosti)