European Union member states agreed on Wednesday to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate status to join the bloc, a move that acknowledges Sarajevo’s path toward closer integration with Europe. Several diplomatic sources confirmed to Europa Press as the decision moved toward formal acknowledgement within the EU machinery.
The decision aligns with the framework discussed during the Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs in Brussels and is anticipated to be formally ratified at the EU leaders’ summit scheduled for this Thursday. The recommendation follows the European Commission’s favorable opinion issued last October and forms part of a broader effort to rejuvenate the Enlargement policy in the wake of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Brussels’ recommendation comes with conditions. Bosnia and Herzegovina must implement wide-ranging reforms in the justice sector and strengthen the fight against corruption in Sarajevo. This requirement was outlined after Twenty-Six leaders tasked Brussels with assessing the country’s progress toward EU standards. The path to candidacy hinges on measurable improvements in governance, rule of law, and reform implementation.
The Twenty-Six now face a responsibility to act on this guidance and to move forward. The European Commission’s recommendations emphasize strengthening the rule of law, combating corruption and organized crime, improving migration management, and upholding fundamental rights. These elements form the backbone of the reform agenda that candidate status would presume for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Member states stress the need for decisive action by Bosnian authorities to reinforce the rule of law, prevent corruption, and curb organized crime. In particular, they call on Bosnia to pass integrity-related amendments to the Law on the Supreme Judiciary and the Prosecutor’s Office and to align its conflicts of interest legislation with European standards. Progress in these areas is viewed as essential to unlock the benefits of closer EU ties.
Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi commented on social networks that Europe is not waiting to take meaningful steps forward. He described the candidate status decision as a landmark moment within the Enlargement Policy, noting that the Council’s recommendation confirms that the path to the EU is open so long as reforms advance in the agreed priority areas.
Today Europe signals a further milestone in enlargement policy as the Council endorses granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is cautious optimism that even more progress can be achieved as 14 key priorities are pursued, with the aim of delivering tangible benefits to citizens across the country.
—Oliver Varhelyi on social media emphasizes the hopeful tone of the moment and the expectation that reform momentum will continue to grow in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reinforcing that the European road remains within reach for the nation.
European unity
The decision comes alongside ongoing steps toward granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, with indications of a broader European strategy for the Western Balkans. The summit discussions also touched on the European perspective for Georgia and the progress of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia after years of deadlock among Member States. These moves reflect a concerted effort to unblock regional challenges and to maintain momentum in European integration in light of the broader security context.
EU leaders signaled at the June summit that they aimed to demonstrate commitment to the Western Balkans by extending a clear European horizon. The attached expectation was to accelerate reform processes, unlock visa-related discussions for the region, and move toward formal negotiations where possible. The overarching aim was to align regional developments with the evolving security and economic landscape in Europe, especially in response to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the need to bolster stability nearby.
In the Bosnia and Herzegovina case, the European perspective remains contingent on progress across 14 political and democratic reform agendas outlined by the European Commission in 2019 and on the cooperative agreement among Bosnian parties to overcome political paralysis. The candidate status step is viewed as an opportunity for Sarajevo to accelerate reforms and to engage more deeply with European institutions as part of a gradual, accountable integration process.