Bosnia Ready for EU Accession Talks, Says European Commission

The European Commission has declared Bosnia and Herzegovina ready to commence accession negotiations with the European Union. The Commission intends to recommend the Balkan nation’s approval to the leaders of EU countries, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

During a speech at the European Parliament, von der Leyen stated the decision to recommend opening accession negotiations with Bosnia. While acknowledging that the country is not yet where it should be, the Commission President commended the “impressive steps” Bosnia has taken towards the EU.

Bosnia’s Path to EU Membership

Bosnia has long been waiting for EU membership. The country submitted its application in February 2016. Since December 2022, Bosnia has held candidate country status, but it needed to fulfill several conditions before negotiations could officially start. Some of these included further reforming the rule of law and democracy, and tackling money laundering.

Other Nations on the Road to EU Accession

The EU has felt an urgency to attract non-EU countries, particularly since the conflict in Ukraine. In December of last year, EU leaders gave Ukraine and Moldova the green light to begin negotiations. Bosnia also saw a possibility, but the country still needed to meet several conditions.

Former Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated in January in Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, that the country was not yet ready for accession negotiations. Rutte was there, among others, with von der Leyen to encourage the government to swiftly meet these conditions, as time was of the essence for Bosnia.

If Bosnia met the conditions, discussions could begin in March, as is now the case. However, if Bosnia still did not meet the conditions, everything could possibly be postponed for another year due to European elections halting decision-making from April.