Bosnian prime minister Borjana Kristo addressed European Council President Charles Michel and its members regarding the decision on enlargement and the lack of support for Bosnia and Herzegovina when it comes to the opening of the accession negotiations.

Kristo said in the letter that she was sad that Bosnia and Herzegovina did not receive the “much-needed” and “well-deserved” support, stressing that everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina gave their maximum. Unfortunately, she added, it was not recognised by the EU “in the way all of us in Bosnia and Herzegovina expected.”

Head of Bosnian government reminded of “great strides” the county made in 2023, pointing out that for the first time in history Bosnia and Herzegovina had full compliance with the EU's foreign and security policy.

“Personally, I was fully convinced that this exceptional work of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023 would be rewarded at yesterday's session of the European Council and that you would give all of us in BiH the much-desired support when it comes to the opening of negotiations, and that in this geopolitical moment you will clearly and strongly tie BiH to the EU,” said Kristo, formally the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers.

European Council on Thursday decided to give a green light for the opening of the accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, putting Bosnia and Herzegovina on hold until the country meets necessary criteria.

“EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached and has invited the commission to report by March with a view to taking such a decision,” said Michel following the session.

But, in response to this decision, Bosnia's Kristo hopes that this “unexpected failure” will not have major consequences on the work of the ruling coalition at all levels of authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She recalled that just this week the Council of Ministers adopted two important documents – a text of the agreement on cooperation with Frontex – the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and the Proposal of Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities, and throughout 2023 the ministers adopted as many as 10 draft laws. The ministers held 51 session and adopted more than 1,400 documents in the past 12 months.

“What I can promise you is that I, personally, as the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, will continue to work at the same tireless pace, aware that we in BiH need all the necessary reforms for our own sake,” Kristo underlined.