European Council President Herman Van Rompuy stated that the decision to start accession negotiation with Serbia on 21 January had been confirmed by the European Council. Heads of the European Union states or governments confirmed the decision of the Council of Ministers to start membership negotiations with Serbia, at the meeting in Brussels which took place on December 20th 2013. The recommendation adopted by the Foreign Ministers, following report of the High Representative Catherine Ashton, that the first intergovernmental conference with Serbia should be held in January, have been confirmed at the summit in Brussels. EU leaders have also confirmed the negotiating framework – mechanism and rules for membership negotiations with Serbia. Greece, which will take over the EU presidency on 1 January, stated that the first intergovernmental conference will be scheduled for 21 January.