With the accession candidate, Bosnia joins countries such as Albania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. All awaiting the long process of joining the European Union. A country can easily spend decades negotiating to bring local laws into line with those of the EU. Turkey has been waiting for membership since 1999.
“Granting accession to the candidates was part of the enlargement conclusion reached this morning,” said a diplomat. A number of conditions were set in 2019 – including 14 key reforms – that Bosnia had to meet before negotiations could start, and we have complied with them. The granting of membership to the candidate is a clear political signal in the light of the current geopolitical situation.’