(BRUSSELS) - The European Union warmly welcomed Monday the outcome of elections in Serbia and promised closer cooperation in hopes that the pro-Westerners' victory could translate into a government with pro-EU aims.

Slovenia, currently in the EU president's chair, and top EU officials held out the prospect of the official status of candidate for full EU membership.

In a first reaction, the Slovenian presidency hailed what it called "a clear victory" for pro-European forces.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said: "Serbia can become the engine of the Western Balkans and the EU is ready to accelerate its EU course -- including candidate status."

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also welcomed the outcome, saying he looked forward to the Balkan state's early progress towards EU membership.

"I hope that a new government can be formed rapidly, which would be strongly committed to reforms and to meeting the necessary conditions for further progress towards Europe," he said.

"The European Union would give such a government all its support."

After the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, Serbia was "now well positioned to advance rapidly," Solana added.

Pro-Western forces in Serbia overcame nationalist rivals, with President Boris Tadic's pro-EU alliance garnering 38.8 percent in Sunday's elections that were dominated by the issue of Serbian ties with the EU.

Belgrade's relations with western European countries had been strained after a number of EU member states recognised Kosovo's declaration of independence in February.

France, Germany and Italy hailed the success of the pro-EU camp, stressing their will to implement promises of rapprochement with Serbia.

With such mounting offers of support, EU countries hoped to encourage the setting up of a government coalition in Belgrade that would look towards joining the bloc.

But this was not likely to prove easy because Tadic's party does not have an overall majority and might have to ally itself with one of the nationalist parties.

And despite his defeat, the ultranationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic has not abandoned the thought of forming a Eurosceptic coalition.

The European Union made a gesture of support last month in signing an association treaty with Serbia as a first step towards full EU membership.

But this can be implemented only if Serbia complies fully with the Hague war crimes tribunal trying suspects from the 1990 Balkans wars.

Belgium and the Netherlands feel particularly that Serbia must cooperate in arresting two main suspects, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, respectively former political leader and former military chief of the Bosnian Serbs.

"The condition will remain in force, but it is hoped that with a new, more pro-EU government, cooperation with the war crimes tribunal will improve," said one EU diplomat.

More cooperation by Serbia in efforts to track down fugitives might suffice to persuade the EU to ratify the association pact, and then give Serbia the status of official applicant for EU membership.

Reacting from Paris, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and European Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet said Serbia had "clearly chosen Europe".

"After this election we will work to make Serbia's European future come true... Serbians know that they can count on Europe and France".

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the results "clearly express the wish of a majority of Serbian citizens for rapprochement with Europe." He said Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned Tadic to congratulate him.

The new Italian government of Silvio Berlusconi said: "Democratic and economic progress in Serbia and the stress on its pro-European dedication... constitute basic elements for the stabilisation of the Balkans."

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