European Commission proposes Bosnia as a candidate to join the European Union

The European Commission recommended this Wednesday (12) that Bosnia receive candidate status to join the European Union under the understanding that the entry will strengthen democracy in the country.

“The winds of change are blowing once again in Europe and we have to seize this momentum,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU’s executive arm. “The Western Balkans belong to our family and we have to make that very, very clear.”

In its annual report on the enlargement of the EU, the Commission said that Bosnia must strengthen its democracy, the functionality of state institutions and the rule of law, tackle corruption and organized crime, guarantee freedom of the press and manage immigration.

The patience of some Western Balkan countries in the EU waiting room is running out. Critics of the bloc’s slow pace of expansion say it opens up space for Russia and China to extend their influence in the region.

Von der Leyen said EU opponents look to the Balkans as a “geopolitical chessboard”, seeking to “create distance between the region and the rest of Europe”.

The Commission stressed that five other Western Balkan states — Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia — as well as Turkey, which have candidate status, need to make more progress on key reforms, including rule of law, fighting corruption. and freedom of the press.

The committee charged that Serbia, which is trying to balance its historic ties with Russia and its bid to join the EU, “improve as a priority issue” its alignment with the bloc’s foreign policy. As a candidate for the EU, Serbia has yet to impose sanctions against Russia.

The Commission also recommended that the visa liberalization regime be granted to Kosovo, the only European country that needs a visa to travel to Western countries.

Bosnia’s Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic considers the decision to grant Bosnia candidate status a welcome and historic one. For her, the invitation encourages reforms and the fulfillment of the necessary conditions for joining the group before opening talks for the country to be officially a member of the EU.

“The resumption of this process is of vital importance for the citizens and the State of Bosnia and for the stabilization of the entire region”, defended Turkovic, on Twitter.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, commenting on the decision to recommend candidate status to Bosnia, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscored the importance of expanding the EU and its geopolitical significance.

“It’s a long-term investment in peace, prosperity and stability for our continent.”