Serbian nationalists have been calling for Belgrade to abandon its bid to join the European Union, but the government says that it is essential for the country to join the bloc.

Boris Tadic, the Serbian president, has ruled out the possibility of Serbia putting its bid on hold, saying that such a decision "would have grave consequences for the lives of every citizen of this country".

Al Jazeera speaks to Vuk Jeremic, the Serbian foreign minister, about the country's application to join the EU, its economy and religious tensions in the region.