EU enlargement process and Bosnia's position

Shutterstock

The European Commission will publish its enlargement package, tomorrow. The package is an estimate of the situation in the countries of the region that are seeking to join the European Union.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession process has been a turbulent one, every since the country signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in 2008. Unlike most of the countries of the region, Bosnia is still far from its final destination. According to Radio Free Europe the document will say:

“Last year, Bosnia was very slow in achieving the results and priorities from the EU-related reform process. The country's economic developments remain slow, suffering from a weak rule of law, a still poor business environment, an inefficient and fragmented public administration, and major labor market imbalances.”

Bosnia's Council of Ministers Chairman Denis Zvizdic said that Bosnia could catch up with its neighbours by 2025 when it could finish the negotiation process with the EU.

“It's always a question whether the glass is half full or half empty, but there will be more positive indicators in the report than the negative ones,” said Zvizdic.

He claims that, so far, Bosnia has implemented all the commitments from the Reform Agenda, a set of reforms which Bosnia needs to implement in order to begin accession talks with the EU.

Even the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stressed the importance of the Western Balkans region for the EU. She said that this is a strategically important region for Europe, even though it has not always been part of the EU.

“I am planning a regional visit to the region, when I will meet with the ministers and discuss ways to improve our cooperation with the partners from the Western Balkans, in the context of mutual security and prosperity”, Mogherini said.

Accidentally or not, Mogerini will not be visiting Pristina and Sarajevo during her countries of the Western Balkans.