The European Commission has said it will recommend talks on closer ties with the new state of Montenegro, leading to eventual EU membership, following the former Yugoslav republic's vote for independence from Serbia.
But the European Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, has said the new state must fulfil various criteria, in particular co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal on the former Yugoslavia.
Meanwhile, the EU has said it respects the outcome of Sunday's referendum and called on all sides to respect the result.
Official results from the referendum show that 55.5% of the electorate voted to end the union with Serbia.
The result is just over the margin set by the EU.
Earlier, leaders of a pro-Serb bloc of parties in Montenegro, which is opposed to independence, demanded a recount.
The bloc called for all ballots in Sunday's vote to be re-checked.
However, the country's electoral commission said the referendum was conducted fully in line with EU standards.
The Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, urged opponents of independence to respect the outcome.
The referendum was possible under a 2003 constitution which bound Serbia and Montenegro but contained an escape clause allowing either side to vote on independence after three years together.
