EU ministers agree to give Bosnia EU candidate status

BELGRADE, Serbia

European Union officials have agreed that Bosnia and Herzegovina should become a formal candidate to join the bloc, the EU enlargement commissioner said on Tuesday.

"Today we have reached another milestone. The way to the EU is open! We have great hopes and expectations that 14 key priorities will be fulfilled for the benefit of citizens,” Oliver Varhelyi said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said: ''Council recommending candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina is a message to all citizens of BiH that their future is in the EU.”

Borrell also urged authorities to make further progress on reforms.

''Steadfast progress on reforms is key to take this perspective forward,'' said Borrell.

Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic said that the decision comes as an incentive and recognition.

''This is the clearest signal so far from our friends that they are ready when the conditions are met to receive Bosnia and Herzegovina as an equal partner at the table and a member of the EU,'' she said.

According to Turkovic, the decision will mean the opening of new channels of cooperation with the EU as well as new financial funds and investments.

''From an economic point of view, investors from around the world will see even more clearly the positive aspects and the chance for progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina,'' she said.

North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani congratulated its neighbor Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding: ''This sends a positive signal to the whole region of the Western Balkans for a credible EU perspective.”

EU leaders are expected to approve the recommendation at a summit to be held on Thursday.

Candidacy status is the first step in a country's long-term EU accession process.

After a country is granted candidate status, accession negotiations begin in stages, provided that the conditions are met.

Accession negotiations can take years to begin.