• 

  Aida brands

  Brussels Editor

As for the European Commission, it is possible to begin negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina on accession to the European Union, but the country must first show improvement in several areas. For this reason, the Commission does not want to specify yet when the talks could begin.

“We are opening the door wide and inviting Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter,” Committee Chairwoman von der Leyen said today. But the report contains many criticisms: concerns remain, especially in the area of ​​justice, and the situation in the Serb-majority part of Bosnia, Republika Srpska, has also deteriorated recently. For example, President Dodik no longer recognizes the country’s Constitutional Court.

Von der Leyen’s enthusiasm does not necessarily enjoy widespread participation in Brussels. “This door has been open for a long time, but Bosnia still has to run a marathon before it gets there,” a source in Brussels told NOS.

Earlier this week, it was announced that negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova could begin soon, if the commission achieves its goal. “It is a historic decision,” says von der Leyen. Ukrainian President Zelensky also spoke of a “strong and historic step.” The Commission believes that Georgia is also ready to become a candidate member of the European Union.

Moldova and Ukraine obtained candidate member status last year. According to the Commission, both have now made sufficient progress and, if it were up to von der Leyen, negotiation talks with the two countries could begin immediately if the 27 EU member states agree.

“With these recommendations, the Commission makes clear that Ukraine and Moldova still have some work to do, but they can be rewarded for the key steps they have taken,” an EU diplomat told NOS. “Bosnia had hoped to make a similar move, but has made very little progress and is being told it has a lot of homework to do first.”

European government leaders are expected to make a decision next December regarding the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.