The European Parliament has adopted a Resolution on Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirming strong support for the country’s European perspective and urging domestic political leaders to end political obstructions and accelerate reforms necessary for European Union membership.
The resolution calls on political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to appoint a chief negotiator for accession talks with the European Union and to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the reform process.
Members of the European Parliament stressed that any future transition of the Office of the High Representative must be carried out with full respect for the constitutional order, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The message from Brussels was clear: political blockades must stop, and reforms must become a priority if the country is serious about joining the European Union.
Political analyst Tanja Topić said that domestic politicians have often expressed support for EU integration only at a declarative level.
“Domestic politicians only declaratively advocated for the EU and said what was acceptable to European officials. In reality, they did everything possible to avoid implementing reforms because strengthening the rule of law would threaten the positions they have held for decades,” Topić said.
Unlike previous resolutions and reports that often sparked differing interpretations of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of MEPs, sending a strong political signal.
Journalist Dejan Šajinović, who follows the work of European institutions, believes the vote reflects growing awareness within the EU of broader geopolitical challenges.
“It seems that a broad front within the EU is becoming increasingly aware of the divergence between the United States and the European Union. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska often find themselves at the frontline of that transatlantic confrontation, which is not a positive position to be in,” Šajinović said.
The resolution highlights that progress toward EU membership requires strengthening democratic institutions, upholding the rule of law, and intensifying efforts to combat corruption and organized crime.
Damjan Žegović of Transparency International BiH emphasized that meaningful progress cannot be achieved without accountability at the highest levels of government.
“Until there is prosecution at the highest level, we cannot expect effective action at lower levels. The fight against corruption must start from the top. Until that happens, reports will continue to show the same shortcomings, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will struggle to effectively address organized crime and corruption,” Žegović said.
The socio-economic dimension also received significant attention in the resolution. European lawmakers stressed the importance of adopting the Reform Agenda and joining the EU Growth Plan program, while criticizing the lack of progress in meeting the conditions required to access available European funds.
The adoption of the resolution represents another reminder from Brussels that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path toward the European Union depends on concrete reforms, stronger institutions, and a greater willingness among political leaders to place European integration above political divisions.
