Commission proposes to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and updates on progress made by Ukraine and Moldova

Today, the European Commission recommended to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and discussed the upcoming oral report to the Council on the progress made by Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to address the outstanding steps made in the Commission's Enlargement report of the 8^th November. The Commission has also finalised proposals for the draft Negotiating Frameworks with Ukraine and Moldova, which will be submitted to the Council.

As requested by the European Council, the Commission is presenting to the Council a report on progress made by Bosnia and Herzegovina. As outlined in the report, since the European Council granted candidate status to the country in December 2022, the public commitment of the political leadership to the strategic goal of European integration was taken forward by important reforms and have brought positive results. Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown strong commitment to move forward on long pending reforms such as the adoption of the law on the prevention of conflict of interests and the law on anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing. Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken significant steps to improve the judiciary and prosecutorial system, the fight against  corruption organised crime and terrorism and to improve migration management, with the approval of a mandate to negotiate a Frontex status agreement. Bosnia and Herzegovina has reached and maintained full alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, which is a significant positive step and crucial in these times of geopolitical turmoil.

In light of the results achieved since 2022, the Commission considers that Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved the necessary level of compliance with the membership criteria. Therefore, the Commission recommends to the Council to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, the Commission recommends that the Council adopts the negotiating framework once Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken further steps in line with the Commission's report. The Commission is ready to report back to the Council about the progress made by Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to these steps.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Since we granted candidate status, Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken impressive steps forward. More progress has been achieved in just over a year than in a whole decade. Of course, more progress is necessary to join the Union but the country showing that it can deliver on its membership criteria and on its citizens aspirations to be part of our family. This is the reason for which we recommend to the Council to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. And for which we recommend that the Council adopts the negotiating framework once Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken further steps in line with the Commission's report. We remain ready to report back to the Council about the progress made by Bosnia and Herzegovina on these steps. The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in our Union.”

The Commission has also today put forward proposals for draft negotiating frameworks for Ukraine and Moldova to the Council following the decision by the European Council in December 2023 to open negotiations with both countries and will give oral report to the Council on the progress made by both countries to address the recommendation made in the Commission's Enlargement report of the 8^th November.

The negotiating frameworks establish the guidelines and principles for the accession negotiations with each candidate country. The draft frameworks prepared by the European Commission are divided into three parts: 1) principles governing the accession negotiations, 2) substance of the negotiations, and 3) negotiations procedure. The objective of the negotiations is that Ukraine and Moldova adopt the EU acquis in its entirety and ensure its full implementation and enforcement.

The draft negotiating frameworks build on the experience of past enlargements and the on‑going accession negotiations. They integrate the revised enlargement methodology and take into account the evolving EU acquis.

It is now for the Council to begin their internal deliberations on these texts. Once the Council has adopted the negotiating frameworks, the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union will present the agreed-upon  EU Common Position in the first inter-governmental conference with each country, marking the formal start of the accession negotiations. The negotiating frameworks will be made public at this stage.

For more information

• European Council of 14-15 December 2023
• 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Report 2023
• Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina

Quote(s)

Since we granted candidate status, Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken impressive steps forward. More progress has been achieved in just over a year than in a whole decade. Of course, more progress is necessary to join the Union but the country showing that it can deliver on its membership criteria and on its citizens aspirations to be part of our family. This is the reason for which we recommend to the Council to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. And for which we recommend that the Council adopts the negotiating framework once Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken further steps in line with the Commission’s report. We remain ready to report back to the Council about the progress made by Bosnia and Herzegovina on these steps. The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in our Union.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

Enlargement is more than ever a geostrategic investment in our shared prosperity and security in the entire European continent. Bosnia and Herzegovina has been working hard to seize the historic opportunity. Candidate status brought a much-needed dynamic which needs to continue. The country’s commitment to the EU path has translated into tangible results and the opening of negotiations is a fair acknowledgement of the delivery of an unprecedented critical mass of reforms. Our message is clear. The EU’s door to Bosnia and Herzegovina is fully open and this should incentivize further key reforms in line with EU rules and standards on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU path. To move ahead the EU path of Ukraine and Moldova, the Commission is today presenting the draft Negotiating Frameworks and will also update the Council on the progress made by these two countries to address the recommendations set out in the Commission’s Enlargement report of 8 November.

Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Today’s recommendation to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina is sending an important message of support to all their citizens, and a clear signal of EU’s commitment to the country’s EU perspective, as a single, united and sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina. The positive dynamic on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reform path needs to continue. Fighting for its existence for more than two years, Ukraine has demonstrated remarkable resilience and commitment and has made substantial progress on its EU path. Despite facing hybrid attacks by Russia, Moldova has made further progress in its EU accession reforms and has shown impressive resilience. The presentation of the draft Negotiating Frameworks for Ukraine and Moldova is a step forward in the process.

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell