EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi confirmed on Thursday that Bosnia and Herzegovina could be granted candidate status to join the 27-member bloc, as it has been previously granted to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

If there is one positive consequence of the Russian war against Ukraine, that is the fact that the enlargement of the EU is a long-term solution for the establishment of peace, security and prosperity. In that sense, enlargement is now a “top” priority not only to our neighbours but also to us, Varhelyi told a press conference in Barcelona where the Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, which has 43 member states, is taking place.

Within the European Commission, we have redoubled our efforts to put forward proposals on enlargement. This year we have already granted candidate status to three countries — Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia — and I believe that we will also make a positive decision on Bosnia and Herzegovina this year, he said.

This gives a new lease of life to the enlargement. However, enlargement is of course a demanding process. It will now be up to the candidate countries to first do their tasks, said Varhelyi.

The last country to become a member of the European Union was Croatia in 2013.

The first part of the forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, an organisation established in 2008, is dedicated to the issues of the security of food and energy supply against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. The second part will be dedicated to security and migration in the EU's neighbourhood.

There are 17 foreign ministers in Barcelona, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is represented by Minister Bisera Turković.