European Commission: EU-Bosnia Accession Talks Should Begin

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Facts

  • The European Commission recommended that the European Union commence membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.1
  • After first applying for EU membership, Bosnia was granted EU candidate status in December 2022. The European Commission will now give the country a positive recommendation to initiate formal accession negotiations.2
  • The recommendation still needs to be approved by the leaders of all 27 EU member states. If the Commission's recommendation is approved, Bosnia and Herzegovina will proceed into the next phase of negotiations, which will likely take several years.3
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of six countries in the Balkan region that are in different stages of the accession process. The other nations under review are Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.4
  • In a speech to the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Bosnia's 'impressive steps' towards meeting EU requirements saying that, 'more progress has been achieved in just over a year than in over a decade.'5
  • Bosnia has struggled with persistent ethnic strife and political tension since the end of the 1992-95 war. The conflict killed more than 100K and uprooted millions.5

Sources: 1www.reuters.com, 2POLITICO, 3Euronews, 4Associated Press and 5Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Euronews. While Bosnia is still far from perfect, the country has made impressive progress in adapting to meet the requirements and expectations of EU member states. These concrete steps that Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken show the commitment that the country has to join the EU. During this time of great geopolitical uncertainty in Europe, the bloc must focus on both growth and security. The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs in the EU.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by www.euractiv.com. The European Commission continues to send new and unclear requirements for EU membership. Bosnia would likely have a better chance of being approved to join a different intergovernmental organization like BRICS — which pushes back on Western hegemonic aims. Bosnia as it exists now has no future, and while EU membership is unlikely to come anytime soon, internal ethnic strife is almost certainly imminent.

Predictions