Berlin  - Germany Tuesday welcomed the formation of a Serbian government pledged to closer ties with the European Union, but called on the new government in Belgrade to cooperate fully with the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

"I am pleased that Serbia has a new government that aims for rapid progress on the road to closer ties with the EU," Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

He expressed the hope that the "remaining hurdles" would be tackled with determination and that "a clear signal" would be sent in the direction of Europe.

Steinmeier repeated the EU's longstanding demand that Serbia fully comply with the demands of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in apprehending and handing over the remaining accused relating to the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Topping the list are former Bosnian Serb president Radovan Karadzic and his military commander, Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb general held primarily responsible for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in which up to 8,000 Muslim men and youths were slaughtered.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic's pro-European government secured the backing of parliament in Belgrade late Monday. (dpa)