The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen informed what they agreed at the meeting on giving the green light to the countries on the EU path. Speaking about Bosnia and Herzegovina, she said that she will submit the progress report to the European Council for decision in March 2024.
It was pointed out that the negotiations will be opened when the conditions for it are met, that is, “when the necessary level of compliance with the EU criteria is achieved”.
“The European Commission recommends the opening of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession negotiations with the European Union when the necessary degree of compliance with membership criteria is achieved. The Commission will report to the EU Council by March 2024 on the progress,” she said.
She pointed out the reasons for and against the opening of negotiations with BiH, which were also stated in the EC report itself.
“In BiH, we recognize that there is a whole series of steps that they have taken, such as the rapid formation of the Council of Ministers, their commitment to the goal of joining the EU, and this has led to progress in the fight against organized crime, money laundering and terrorism, but we note with concern that RS passed a number of unconstitutional laws,” she said.
To an additional question, whether they recommend opening negotiations for Bosnia and Herzegovina or not, she said that they recommend after certain conditions are met.
“We are opening the door very wide and we invite BiH to go through that door, of course, in order to do that, results must be shown, but the door is wide open to welcome BiH in the accession negotiations,” Von der Leyen said.
At the very beginning of the EC Report, which is in the possession of the editorial office of Klix.ba, it is written:
“After applying for EU membership in February 2016, Bosnia and Herzegovina must fulfill 14 key priorities as stated in the Commission’s Opinion of 1 May 2019, which include democracy/functionality, rule of law, fundamental rights and public administration reform. After the Commission assesses that Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved the necessary level of compliance with the criteria for membership, and especially that the key priorities have been met, the Commission will recommend the opening of negotiations on EU accession”.
