EU leaders give the green light for accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has moved closer to EU membership as the bloc’s leaders have approved the start of formal talks for accession. This decision comes after eight years since the Western Balkan country first applied for EU membership and just nine days after the European Commission declared that Bosnia had made sufficient progress in aligning with EU standards, values, and foreign policy. European Council President Charles Michel expressed the EU’s support for Bosnia’s EU path, emphasizing the need for continued hard work to ensure steady progress.

Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, thanked EU leaders and Charles Michel for their support in achieving the necessary level of compliance with EU requirements and criteria. While all EU member states support Bosnia’s accession in principle, some countries like Denmark and the Netherlands had concerns about the completion of constitutional and electoral reforms before entering negotiations. The Netherlands narrowly voted down a motion to postpone talks, allowing caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte to back the opening of talks in Brussels.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of five Western Balkan countries recognized as official candidates to join the EU, but it is the only one yet to enter formal accession talks. Challenges such as entrenched ethnic divisions and delays in reforms have hindered the country’s progress towards EU membership. However, a group of countries known as the ‘friends of Bosnia’, including Austria, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, and Slovenia, have been offering support to speed up the country’s bid. These countries have suggested tying Ukraine and Moldova’s progression on their membership paths to Bosnia’s advancement.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer proposed that Bosnia should follow a similar process as Ukraine, where negotiations for EU accession only start when specific points have been met. Austria and other supportive countries aim to push for Bosnia’s progress by linking it to the advancement of Ukraine and Moldova. Despite facing outstanding issues, like Ukraine and Moldova, which already have talks approved by EU leaders, Bosnia also needs unanimous approval for negotiation frameworks to move forward. Hungary’s potential blockage of these frameworks could pose a hurdle for Bosnia’s accession talks.

With the approval of formal talks for Bosnia’s EU accession, the country must continue its work towards meeting EU requirements and criteria. This step marks a significant advancement in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU path after years of delays and challenges. By addressing remaining issues and making necessary reforms, Bosnia can progress towards joining the European Union, supported by a group of countries that advocate for its membership. As Bosnia moves forward in its bid for EU accession, it will need to navigate potential obstacles and ensure continued dedication to meeting EU standards for membership.