ITEuropean Union Member States agreed on Wednesday to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate status to join the European bloc.thus acknowledging Sarajevo’s community perspective, several diplomatic sources confirmed to Europa Press.
This decision e.l Framework for the Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs in Brussels and is expected to be ratified at the EU leaders’ summit this Thursday. The recommendation follows the guidance of the European Commission, which gave a favorable opinion last October, and is part of efforts to reinvigorate Enlargement policy after Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Brussels’ opinion is subject to the following conditions: Adhere to wide-ranging reforms in justice and the fight against corruption in Sarajevo and came last June after being tasked by the leaders of Twenty-seven to assess the country’s progress towards the EU.
Now, let the Twenty-Seven once again heed this advice and take action. “Understanding that the measures detailed in the Commission’s recommendation will be taken to strengthen the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, migration management and fundamental rights.“, according to the results of Twenty-Seven.
Member States also The need of the Balkan country authorities to strengthen the rule of law take decisive action to strengthen the prevention and fight against corruption and organized crime. In particular, they call on Bosnia to pass integrity-related amendments to the Law on the Supreme Judiciary and Prosecutor’s Office and bring its legislation on conflicts of interest in line with European standards.
“Europe is sleeping,” said Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, in a message on social networks insisting that this decision is a “landmark”. in the Extension Policy. “The Council recommends granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The way to the EU is open,” he said, emphasizing Brussels’ expectation of progress in priority reforms to take steps towards Europe.
European unity
After the recognition of Bosnia EU takes steps to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and with a few winks to the Balkan region, such as pointing to the European perspective to Georgia at the summit last June, and launching accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia after years of blockade by Member States.
EU leaders agreed at the June summit to give a signal to the region in line with the decision to accept Ukraine and Moldova as future members of the Union. During this summit, European leaders understood that it was necessary to unblock the Balkans issue, which became official in July, and to open negotiations with Albania and Macedonia, or to make progress on visa exemption for Kosovo. years ago. weeks. All within the framework of a closer approach In view of the consequences of the war in Ukraine and to a neighboring region of the EU in order to give new impetus to European integration.
In the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European perspective is subject to progress on the 14 political and democratic reform agendas set by the European Commission in 2019 and the agreement between the Bosnian parties to lift the political paralysis in the country. The candidate status issue was then conceived as an intermediate step for Sarajevo to take a closer look at Europe’s doorstep and accelerate its reform agenda.