Op-ed by the Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH Luigi Soreca
Two years ago – 21 March 2024 – the European Council gave a green light to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was a day of great optimism. Landmarks in Bosnia and Herzegovina buildings were lit up in the colours of the EU flag. There was a hope that this marked a new start.
Accession negotiations, as a structured process between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU, remain the best opportunity for long-term, comprehensive solutions to challenges that have held Bosnia and Herzegovina back for many years. They are the most effective way to strengthen the functioning of the country’s democratic institutions, ensure the rule of law, and radically improve living standards, as indeed has been the case for every other country approaching EU membership.
Two years on, instead of a new start that would help turbocharge Bosnia and Herzegovina’s significant unused potential, it looks like yet another missed opportunity.
The European Union’s position is clear – we want Bosnia and Herzegovina in European Union. However, we cannot want EU membership for the country more than BiH’s authorities. Equally, we have to be clear about the fact that missed opportunities carry costs.
The risks of inaction for Bosnia and Herzegovina are no longer abstract: slower EU integration, missed reforms, lost chances for economic and political advancement, and falling behind neighbours. Deadlines connected with the Reform Agenda of the Growth Plan continue to be missed. There is now a very concrete risk we will unfortunately see cuts to BiH’s allocation of up to EUR 976.6 million in much needed investment under the Growth Plan. This money could make a huge difference for citizens. Not taking advantage of such opportunities is inexplicable, indeed, even irresponsible.
In the current highly volatile and uncertain geopolitical landscape, there is a very strong momentum for an enlarged Europe, in which peace, stability and prosperity flourishes. Some candidate countries, in the region and beyond, have leveraged this new geopolitical context to make a significant step forward on their path toward European Union, while other countries are seriously considering restarting accession negotiations, such as Iceland. Unfortunately, the same level of political will and ambition is absent in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The benefits of advancing on the EU path are tangible and significant. Countries who have joined the Union or who are currently frontrunners on the path to EU membership have not regarded building functional institutions, strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption as “requirements from Brussels”, but as the foundations of a state that works for its own citizens. Without these, economic growth remains fragile, public trust erodes, and young people continue to leave. The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, of which the Reform Agenda is a central component, is a major opportunity to deepen economic integration with the European Union, for example by joining the Single Euro Payments Area, dramatically reducing the costs of cross-border transfers. Comprehensive reforms will improve the business climate and attract investment. The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve the same standards and opportunities as citizens across the European Union.
We believe that the time for political will and action from the authorities is now. The election year should not be used as an alibi for inaction. Genuine commitment to securing the benefits of EU membership for citizens requires that EU related reforms are high on the political agenda.
Yes, there has been some progress in the past two years. After a significant delay, the Reform Agenda was eventually adopted. But adoption on paper does not mean implementation in practice. Key steps remain incomplete, including the ratification of the Facility and Loan agreements, which form the legal basis for any payments, as well as the appointment of a Reform Agenda Coordinator. As a result, even the prefinancing under the Growth Plan of EUR 68 million that BiH is entitled to cannot be accessed yet.
The EU underlines its full support and assistance for BiH’s EU path, but it cannot substitute for domestic leadership. BiH’s political actors have demonstrated before – including in the run up to the European Council decision two years ago – that when there is political will, they can find consensus and solutions that benefit all. It is time to find that political will again.
