Status: 12.10.2022 4:40 p.m
The European Commission has proposed to Member States that Bosnia and Herzegovina be declared a candidate country for EU membership. Enlargement Commissioner Varhelyi spoke of a “historic opportunity”.
The EU Commission is in favor of nominating the Balkan state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an official candidate for accession to the European Union. This was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels at the European Union Ambassadors’ Conference.
The EU must seize the momentum, said von der Leyen, emphasizing: “The western Balkans are part of our family.” The multi-ethnic state of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been waiting for the EU’s decision to recognize the country as a candidate country for a long time.
Clear position of the responsible commissioner
“I call on the country’s leadership to seize this historic opportunity,” said Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. In June, following a Commission recommendation, the EU states officially named Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for EU membership. However, accession negotiations are only to begin once the reform requirements have been met.
The Commission is now proposing this procedure for Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. In the course of the decision in favor of the Ukraine and Moldova, countries such as Austria in particular had urged that Bosnia and Herzegovina should also follow this path.
Reform requirements must be met
The country was given the prospect of joining the EU in 2003 and officially submitted an application for membership in 2016. In 2019, however, it was decided that Bosnia and Herzegovina should only be granted candidate status once it had fulfilled 14 reform requirements.
In the previous report, the EU Commission came to the conclusion that there had recently been little progress. Varhelyi now emphasized that it is still crucial for the start of accession negotiations that the conditions are met.
However, the 27 member states have to decide on this in a unanimous decision. As a candidate, the accession negotiations can then be started, which experience has shown to last several years.