Bosnia is a candidate member of the EU, but accession is not on the agenda

Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes a candidate member of the European Union. That is what the 27 EU member states decided on Tuesday, diplomats tell international news agencies. On Thursday, Bosnia’s candidacy must be confirmed by European leaders. According to a diplomat involved, Bosnia’s candidate membership is “a political signal in the light of the current geopolitical situation,” reports Reuters news agency.

The candidate membership of the Balkan country does not necessarily mean that Bosnia will join the EU in the near future. Other candidate countries, including Albania, Moldova, North Macedonia and Turkey, have been in the queue for years, with no move from the EU to allow them to join. Before countries can become members, they must meet high standards in the areas of democracy, the rule of law and the economy, and lengthy negotiations to bring national laws into line with European standards.

Moreover, a number of European member states, including the Netherlands, are generally skeptical about any form of EU enlargement. The Bosnian boat was also held back by the Netherlands for a long time, but after Ukraine and Moldova became candidate members without the usual procedure because of the war in Ukraine, equal treatment for Bosnia was inevitable.

Read also Is the EU ready for a new round of enlargements?

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