Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application for European Union membership

Summary:

Reports and information on the formal application from Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the European Union.

Further information:

The formal application for accession was made on 15 February 2016 by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Submitting the application opened a process of assessment and of decision-making in granting candidate status, followed by a new decision-making on opening accession negotiations. On 20 September, the Council of the European Union accept the EU membership application and requested the European Commission to prepare an assessment of the country's readiness to join the European Union.

The European Commission published its Opinion on 29 May 2019, in which it notes the country had not yet fulfilled the accession criteria related to the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.

Official

European Commission: Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on the occasion of Bosnia and Herzegovina submitting membership application, 15 February 2016 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-16-303_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 22/03/2016: Foreign affairs MEPs assess reform progress in Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20160322IPR20404/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 20/09/2016: Council conclusions on the application of Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership of the EU http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/09/20-conclusions-bosnia/

European Commission: Key findings of the Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU membership application and analytical report, 29 May 2019 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_COUNTRY-19-2778_en.htm

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News

The Guardian, 26/01/2016: Bosnia to submit EU membership application next month https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/26/bosnia-european-union-membership-application

EurActiv, 15/02/2016: Mogherini says Bosnia’s EU application is ‘good news’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/mogherini-says-bosnias-eu-application-is-good-news/

Balkan Insight, 15/02/2016: Bosnia Files EU Membership Application https://balkaninsight.com/2016/02/15/bosnia-submits-its-eu-application-02-15-2016/

Euronews, 15/02/2016: Bosnia formally applies for European Union membership https://www.euronews.com/2016/02/15/bosnia-formally-applies-for-european-union-membership

EUObserver, 15/02/2016: Bosnia applies for EU membership https://euobserver.com/enlargement/132271

The Wall Street Journal, 15/02/2016: Bosnia Submits Application to Join EU https://www.wsj.com/articles/bosnia-submits-application-to-join-eu-1455541980

BBC News, 15/02/2016: Bosnia-Herzegovina applies to join European Union https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35577984

Sputnik International, 15/02/2016: Bosnia and Herzegovina Officially Applies for EU Membership https://sptnkne.ws/m7G6

Deutsche Welle, 15/02/2016: Bosnia-Herzegovina faces a long road as it tries to become EU member https://p.dw.com/p/1Hvap

Balkan Insight, 16/02/2016: Bosnia Split Over EU Membership Application https://balkaninsight.com/2016/02/16/eu-application-draws-mixed-reactions-in-bosnia-02-15-2016/

TRT World, 20/09/2016: European Commission to examine Bosnia-Herzegovina membership https://www.trtworld.com/europe/eu-commission-to-examine-bosnia-herzegovina-membership-190198

Politico, 20/09/2016: Bosnia’s EU membership bid gets boost https://www.politico.eu/article/bosnias-eu-membership-bid-gets-boost/

The Independent, 21/09/2016: EU accepts membership application from Bosnia and Herzegovina https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eu-accepts-membership-application-from-bosnia-and-herzegovina-a7319841.html

EurActiv, 21/09/2016: EU accepts Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership application https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-accepts-bosnia-and-herzegovinas-membership-application/

EurActiv, 31/10/2016: Croatia to coach Bosnians on how to join the EU https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/croatia-to-coach-bosnians-on-how-to-join-the-eu/

EurActiv, 25/11/2016: Corruption and nationalism threaten Bosnia’s EU bid https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/corruption-and-nationalism-threaten-bosnias-eu-bid/

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Commentary and Analysis

EUObserver, 11/02/2016: Bosnia's EU application masks turmoil https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132174

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