European Commission pushes for Bosnia's EU membership talks

On Tuesday, the European Commission recommended starting European Union membership negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The European Commission's President Ursula von der Leyen announced this significant step during her speech to the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen expressed the commission's position, saying, "Today we will decide to recommend to the Council to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina."

She highlighted the country's impressive advancements, noting, "Since we granted candidate status, Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken impressive steps forward."

Despite Bosnia-Herzegovina's progress, von der Leyen underlined that more advancements are essential for joining the union.

She assured, "The country is showing that it can deliver on the membership criteria, and on its citizens’ aspiration to be part of our family." This progress includes aligning with the EU's foreign and security policy, a crucial aspect in current geopolitical contexts.

The commission's recommendation is pending approval from all 27 EU leaders, who will meet next week in Brussels. Bosnia-Herzegovina was recognized as an official EU candidate in December 2022 and has worked on necessary reforms to meet the EU's criteria. The country faces challenges like ethnic divisions and reform delays but has shown commitment to overcoming these hurdles.

Von der Leyen further stated, "More progress has been achieved in just over a year than in over a decade." She pointed out Bosnia-Herzegovina's advancements in managing migration flows and adopting laws to fight money laundering and terrorist financing.

Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg reacted to the announcement by describing it as a "strong signal" for the Western Balkans' integration into the EU.

If EU leaders agree to the commission's recommendation, Bosnia-Herzegovina will move to the next negotiation phase.

This it marks the beginning of an extensive process, often lasting years, before a country becomes an EU member. Additionally, the European Commission plans to present a draft framework for Ukraine and Moldova's EU accession talks, reinforcing the union's commitment to expanding its influence in Eastern Europe.

Source: Newsroom