The Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament's House of Representatives on Monday endorsed two laws harmonised with the acquis communautaire and the ambition that the country could open negotiations with Brussels by the end of the year, which was discussed at the Bled Strategic Forum, is growing.

Under the urgent procedure, with the Opposition being against it, the ruling majority consisting of the HDZ BiH, the Troika and the SNSD endorsed the proposals for laws on foreigners and on the organisation of the wine market in BiH.

Both laws are aligned with the acquis of the European Union, as they were established by the BiH Council of Ministers based on the agreement of the leaders of the ruling majority political parties.

The amendments to the law on foreigners include four EU regulations in the field of migration, issuing visas, permanent residence, temporary residence of foreigners in BiH and other conditions defined by that law.

Amendments to the law on wine make it easier for winemakers to do business in BiH, export to the EU, and revive and develop the sector in BiH.

In order for these changes, as well as recently accepted changes to the law in the judiciary, to enter into force, they still need to be confirmed by the upper, nationally conceived House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament.

The institutions of the European Union requested that Bosnia and Herzegovina accept several laws in order to open negotiations on the country's membership with the European Union.

On the sidelines of the meeting in Bled, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the Chairperson of the BiH Council of Ministers, Borjana Kristo, discussed the next steps.

Michel expressed the expectation that Bosnia will again be on the agenda of the next meetings of the EU Council, where EU enlargement will be discussed.

Chairperson Kristo reported on the progress made by the authorities in BiH and expressed her expectation that the negotiation process with BiH be opened as soon as possible, by the end of 2023 at the latest.