EU member states’ Europe ministers have agreed to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina EU candidate status. The decision must be officially endorsed at the EU summit. However, “a number of steps” still need to be taken for this, said Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.
The necessary unanimity was already expected in the run-up to the meeting of European ministers in Brussels.
Press from Austria
In October, the EU commission recommended candidate status for the Balkan country, linked to reforms in the judiciary and administration. The current decision was taken partly under pressure from Austria. The Balkan country brought this up in connection with the candidate status granted to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in June.
The EU’s rapprochement with the former Yugoslav republic is hampered by the ethnic conflicts between Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks. However, in Bosnia’s general elections, the nationalist parties of the three peoples suffered setbacks, which was taken as a sign of the Bosnian people’s desire for faster rapprochement with the EU.
It may take years, if not decades, for all countries to be included. In addition, the European ministers are preparing for Thursday’s EU summit and will discuss, among other things, the rule of law in Poland.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
