STRASBOURG: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that Brussels was recommending member states open formal membership talks with Bosnia, in the latest move towards expanding the bloc in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this decision on Tuesday, highlighting Bosnia’s progress in meeting the criteria for EU accession.
Bosnia has held the status of an official candidate for EU membership since 2022 but has been required to implement a series of substantial reforms before advancing to the negotiation stage. Von der Leyen, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, commended Bosnia’s efforts in meeting membership standards and expressed confidence in its ability to integrate into the EU.
The EU’s executive branch is set to present its latest progress report on Bosnia later on Tuesday, ahead of an upcoming EU leaders’ summit. This summit, scheduled for next week, is viewed as a pivotal opportunity for Bosnia to commence negotiations before the European elections in June.
However, the initiation of negotiations requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. Despite acknowledging the need for further progress, von der Leyen emphasized Bosnia’s significant advancements over the past year, particularly in aligning with EU policies on foreign affairs, security, migration management, and financial regulations.
EU Chief Lauds Bosnia
Von der Leyen also lauded Bosnia’s commitment to incorporating judgments from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia into its domestic criminal records. Additionally, she noted positive developments in fostering dialogue and reconciliation in the aftermath of the country’s devastating 1992-1995 war, including the establishment of a new peace-building committee.
While von der Leyen hailed the prospect of Bosnia’s EU membership as a clear affirmation of the country’s future within the union, she underscored that initiating negotiations is merely the initial step in a prolonged process of reforms, typically spanning several years.
Bosnia joins other Balkan nations such as North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania in the queue for EU membership. The EU’s push for enlargement in the Western Balkans is viewed as a strategic move to counteract Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned last week that delaying EU accession for Western Balkan countries could leave them vulnerable to Russian interference. Notably, Russia has maintained close ties with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who has expressed support for EU integration but emphasized the importance of a firm timeline for negotiations to commence.
