Almost seven years have passed since the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina formally applied to join the European Union in February 2016. A clear set of fourteen priorities the country needed to satisfy before earning candidate status was identified in 2019. Three years later Brussels paused to consider next steps. The aim was clear: granting candidate status is a European gift to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a gesture that carries significant expectations. Authorities hoped that after the general elections on October 2, lawmakers and state institutions would push reforms toward the European Union. Olivier Varhely suggested that a decision could come from European leaders by December.
Even if Sarajevo wins the backing of European leaders by year’s end, the country must still meet a long list of conditions before formal EU accession negotiations can begin. To reach that point, Varhely noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina must urgently adopt reforms to guarantee the integrity of the Supreme Court, ensure the independence of the prosecutor’s office, enact reforms for the courts and conflicts of interest, and intensify the fight against corruption and organized crime. He emphasized that decisive actions are required.
Brussels also requires real coordination at border crossings and the proper functioning of the asylum system, measures to prevent torture, guarantees of media freedom and journalist protection, including fair judicial processes, and a smooth coordination mechanism for European affairs. The European Commission remains prepared to be a reliable partner on this path, but the fourteen priorities remain non-negotiable. Bosnia and Herzegovina must meet all these criteria before starting accession negotiations with the EU, Varhely reminded readers.
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The decision sits within the enlargement package, an annual assessment by the European Commission of the Western Balkans and Turkey on progress toward EU membership. In the wake of Russia’s aggression, the package gains renewed relevance. Enlargement policy is viewed as a strategic investment in peace, stability, security, and the socioeconomic growth of Europe. There is no alternative that serves shared interests better than advancing the Western Balkans toward the EU, along with Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.
In the cases of Albania and North Macedonia, both countries entered a new phase with the EU last July after the first intergovernmental conferences on accession negotiations. Brussels argues that both nations should continue strengthening areas such as the rule of law, anti-corruption efforts, and the fight against organized crime. In Albania’s situation, it is also essential to address property rights, minority protections, and media freedom.
Montenegro’s agenda centers on rule of law and core freedom of expression issues, media independence, anti-corruption efforts, and the fight against organized crime, as well as the credibility of the judiciary. Achieving these goals requires political stability and broad participation from all stakeholders, leading to a stable government and a shared political consensus in Parliament on key reforms.
For Serbia, Brussels recommends forming a government firmly aligned with the EU’s strategic direction and reforms as a priority. Continued political commitment to deepen reforms and address gaps, particularly in the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organized crime, media freedom, and the treatment of war crimes, is urged by the Commission.
Although no direct reference is made to ties between Belgrade and Moscow, Brussels calls for better alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy. Serbia does not face European sanctions, which means a more unified stance is needed given current tensions. Closer cooperation with Serbia is viewed as meaningful because it can help bridge gaps between Russia and Ukraine, a view reiterated by Varhely.
Kosovo and regional progress
Regarding Kosovo, the EU Commission asks for stronger efforts to bolster democracy, improve public administration, reinforce the rule of law, and fight corruption. The Commission continues to assess that Kosovo met all visa liberalization criteria as of July 2018 and that the proposal still awaiting a decision in the Council requires urgent consideration.
Turkey’s role
The diagnosis of Turkey’s path remains challenging. Brussels criticizes Ankara for backsliding on democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. The Commission calls on Turkey to address the weakening checks and balances in its political system and to reverse this trend as a priority, before the membership process can advance. It also warns that tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean are rising and urges Turkey to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all EU member states, including Cyprus and Greece.
Brussels notes that Ankara has continued noncompliance with restrictive measures against Russia, a stance seen as problematic given the free movement of goods within the EU-Turkey Customs Union. The current geopolitical climate makes closer cooperation with Turkey particularly important because the country serves as a potential intermediary between Russia and Ukraine, a point acknowledged by Varhely.