The leaders of the EU member states gave the "green light" to BiH for the opening of negotiations on accession to the European Union, on Thursday evening, in Brussels, N1 unofficially learned from diplomatic sources.

This decision was made based on the recommendations of the European Commission (EC).

Last week the European Commission published a report in which it concluded that Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfilled the conditions sufficiently for the beginning of the long journey towards membership in the European Union.

At a meeting in December 2023, EU leaders gave the “green light” to the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, after those countries took important steps set out in the EC enlargement report of November 8, 2023. Leaders then also expressed their readiness to open accession negotiations with Bosnia when the criteria for membership are met to the extent necessary.

Political magazine Politico stated that a new draft on enlargement was circulated 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 October 12, 22 are taken.”

They added that the new draft is more positive on the next steps for Ukraine and Moldova, as Lithuania had asked for.

The new draft, Politico said, does not indicate a specific timing for the adoption of the negotiating framework, as Ukraine’s supporters had initially asked for.