Report on progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina – March 2024

Summary:

Report published by the European Commission on 12 March 2024, as regards the progress made by Bosnia and Herzegovina when it comes to its accession to the European Union (EU).

Further information:

In its conclusions adopted in December 2022, the Council of the European Union recommended that the status of candidate country was granted to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The recommendation was made on the understanding that the steps specific in the European Commission's recommendations earlier in the year were taken. The Council also underlined the urgency for the country to move forward on its EU path. This was confirmed by the European Council on 15 December 2022.

In its 2023 Communication on enlargement policy, the Commission welcomed the reform efforts undertaken by the country since being granted the status, but more was required to fulfil the key priorities set out in the Commission's Opinion on Bosnia's membership application and later in its recommendations. It also recommended the opening of accession negotiations once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria was achieved.

Following up on a request from the European Council in December 2023, this report provides an outline of the latest development as regards Bosnia's accession since the enlargement report of November 2023. The Commission notes the public commitment of political parties in the country to the strategic goal of EU integration has brought some positive results. It recommends the opening of EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Primary Source

News

Politico, 11/03/2024: Bosnia should start EU membership talks, Commission will announce https://www.politico.eu/article/bosnia-herzegovina-european-union-candidate-membership-accession/

Euronews, 12/03/2024: Brussels recommends opening EU membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/03/12/brussels-recommends-opening-eu-membership-talks-with-bosnia-and-herzegovina

Reuters, 12/03/2024: European Commission recommends opening EU membership talks with Bosnia https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/european-commission-recommend-eu-membership-talks-with-bosnia-says-eus-von-der-2024-03-12/

Associated Press (AP News), 12/03/2024: European Union members should open talks with Bosnia on joining, the EU’s executive branch says https://apnews.com/article/european-union-bosnia-membership-negotiations-0406df4d7f1abe52bc10f14d023be417

Politico, 12/03/2024: Von der Leyen says EU should open membership talks with Bosnia https://www.politico.eu/article/von-der-leyen-announces-eu-should-open-membership-talks-bosnia/

Deutsche Welle, 12/03/2024: EU to recommend membership talks with Bosnia: von der Leyen https://p.dw.com/p/4dPn6

Bloomberg, 12/03/2024: EU Will Recommend Opening Talks With Bosnia to Join the Bloc https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-12/eu-will-recommend-opening-talks-with-bosnia-to-join-the-bloc

RFI News, 12/03/2024: Brussels recommends opening EU membership talks with Bosnia https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20240312-brussels-recommends-opening-eu-membership-talks-with-bosnia

EurActiv, 13/03/2024: Croatian MEP awaits opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/croatian-mep-awaits-opening-of-accession-negotiations-with-bosnia/

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Official

European Commission: DG NEAR: Bosnia and Herzegovina https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/bosnia-and-herzegovina_en

European Commission: Press Release, 12/03/2024: Commission proposes to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and updates on progress made by Ukraine and Moldova https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_1423

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