The European Commission has recommended the start of EU membership discussions with Bosnia-Herzegovina, announced Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday during a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.
The EU’s enlargement prospects will come up for discussion amongst leaders of the 27 Member States during the European summit on 21 and 22 March in Brussels.
Bosnia-Herzegovina initially entered an application to join the EU in February 2016 and was given candidate status in December 2022.
Last November, the Commission acknowledged Bosnia’s continued improvement but branded it still as insufficient. The Commission endorsed accession negotiations once the country complied with the set membership criteria. The 27 asked the Commission to review and provide an update in March.
On Tuesday, President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the completion of the report. "Since we allocated them candidate status, Bosnia-Herzegovina has made significant strides towards us. More progress has been made in barely more than one year than in over a decade," she noted.
She mentions the country’s alignment with the EU’s foreign policy and security, a fundamental aspect of membership. Other ground-breaking legislative measures are also commended, with laws on "conflict of interest prevention" and "combating money laundering and terrorism financing". Respectively in the migration aspect, Bosnia is ready to negotiate an agreement with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
"Fourthly, the Ministry of Justice has agreed to include International Criminal Tribunal judgments for former Yugoslavia in their national records. Fifthly, in regards to dialogue and reconciliation, a new Peace Consolidation Steering Committee has begun its function."
However, President von der Leyen added: "Of course, further progress is needed to join our Union."
Since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has once again focused on its enlargement, with the Western Balkans being of particular concern. Nine nations, including Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine, are currently recognised candidates for membership.
