Following the European Council's decision to allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin the accession talks, EU officials started congratulating the country on the good news.

European Council President Charles Michel said Bosina’s place is in the EU, and that hard work needs to continue:

“The European Council has just decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Congratulations! Your place is in our European family. Today’s decision is a key step forward on your EU path. Now the hard work needs to continue so Bosnia and Herzegovina steadily advances, as your people want.”

The European Council has just decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Congratulations!

Your place is in our European family.

Today’s decision is a key step forward on your EU path. Now the hard work needs to continue so Bosnia and Herzegovina… pic.twitter.com/LyotNa5gGc

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) March 21, 2024

Member of the European Parliament Paulo Rangel noted that the green light also means Bosnia’s responsibility to deliver future reforms:

“A European future for Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the horizon! Today’s opening of accession negotiations is a well-deserved recognition of progress, a responsibility to deliver, and a further step on the road from Dayton to Brussels.”

A European future for Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the horizon!

Today’s opening of accession negotiations is a well-deserved recognition of progress, a responsibility to deliver, and a further step on the road from Dayton to Brussels 🇧🇦🇪🇺@EPPGroup @eubih pic.twitter.com/TLMNWEce6s

— Paulo Rangel (@PauloRangel_pt) March 21, 2024

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said the decision is an important step in bringing the country closer to the EU:

“Congratulations to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina! Today's decision by to start accession negotiations is an important step in bringing the country closer to the EU. An enlarged EU means a stronger EU.”

Congratulations to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina!

Today's decision by to start accession negotiations is an important step in bringing the country closer to the EU.

An enlarged EU means a stronger EU 🇪🇺🇧🇦

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) March 21, 2024

Political magazine Politico stated earlier that a new draft was circulated on enlargement that is a bit stricter on the next steps for the accession process.

According to the magazine, the draft states that leaders called on “the Commission to prepare the negotiating framework with a view to its adoption by the Council the moment all relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 12 October, 22 are taken.”