Representatives of EU Member States within the Working Party on the Western Balkans (KOVEB) of the Council of the European Union will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1 to 3 April 2025, accompanied by representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), as well as the General Secretariat of the Council.
As announced by the EU Delegation to BiH, the visit is an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path and the situation in the country, including the current political and constitutional crisis. It will also provide information for the formulation of the EU’s foreign and security policy, including ahead of the upcoming important meetings of the Council on the Western Balkans. During the visit, the KOVEB delegation will meet in Sarajevo and Banja Luka with representatives of domestic institutions, political party leaders and civil society representatives, as well as EUFOR and representatives of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The visit comes one year after the European Council gave the green light to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and underlines the continued commitment of the EU and its Member States to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path towards membership, with an emphasis on ensuring long-term stability and progress. Progress on the European path and the reforms necessary for progress remain the best guarantee of prosperity and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
KOVEB is the preparatory body of the Council of the European Union responsible for matters related to EU relations with the Western Balkans. KOVEB is composed of representatives of ministries or departments of EU Member States responsible for European affairs. The working group deals with issues in the sphere of political and economic development and the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP). KOVEB last visited BiH in 2023, Fena writes.
