The renewed political momentum for EU enlargement has created a unique opportunity for Western Balkan countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Following the European Council’s green light to open negotiations with BiH, domestic institutions now face the task of completing specific and achievable steps, particularly those outlined in the European Commission’s 2022 recommendation.
Elvira Habota says the moment is favourable, but requires swift and coordinated action – from legislative reforms and strengthening administrative capacities to greater public engagement.
In her interview, Habota shares how the screening preparations are progressing, the importance of regional cooperation, and how citizens can experience tangible benefits from the European path.
As EU enlargement once again gains strong political momentum, how is BiH taking advantage of this favourable moment?
“After the European Council gave the green light in March last year to open EU accession negotiations with BiH, the key task for institutions and authorities in BiH is to make progress on implementing the eight steps from the European Commission’s recommendation for granting candidate status from 2022.
This is a prerequisite for adopting the EU’s negotiation framework with BiH and convening the first intergovernmental conference, which would formally begin accession negotiations with the EU.
Much has been done to meet these eight steps, and during recent visits in April, EU representatives stated that the door is open for BiH and that only a few specific and achievable steps remain before negotiations can begin.
This is an important message for the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to shift focus away from internal issues and the current political crisis, and back to the European path and adoption of legislation identified by the EU as essential for approving the negotiation framework – and thereby bringing the issue of opening negotiations with BiH back onto the EU agenda.”
The European Commission has clearly identified enlargement as one of its key priorities. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for BiH to further accelerate its European path in this politically favourable climate?
“The key to accelerating BiH’s European path is achieving as many concrete results as possible, which applies to all countries engaged in the EU accession process.
After starting 2025 with the adoption of several important laws from the European Commission’s eight-step recommendation – such as the Law on Personal Data Protection and the Law on Border Control – BiH authorities still need to adopt the law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (VSTV), which is in parliamentary procedure, as well as a new law on the BiH courts.
Top priorities include appointing the chief negotiator and negotiation team, preparing the national plan for adopting the acquis, and appointing the national IPA coordinator.
It is also necessary to continue efforts in areas such as migration, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and especially freedom of expression and media, as well as journalist protection – where, according to the latest European Commission Report on BiH from October 2024, there has been no progress.
Urgent finalisation and submission of the Reform Plan to the European Commission is also one of the priorities for the BiH authorities, and was particularly highlighted in the latest Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Considering the progress made by neighbouring countries in the region, how much can regional cooperation, through initiatives such as the Berlin Process, help BiH move closer to EU membership more quickly?
“There are numerous examples of reforms that countries in the region, which are in the process of EU accession, need to implement simultaneously. These are areas suitable for cooperation and sharing experiences.
Regional cooperation is our obligation under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and it is essential for addressing challenges of a cross-border nature.
Because of this, regional cooperation and the progress of Western Balkan countries towards the EU are an excellent example of interdependent processes that complement and strengthen each other.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina has successfully responded to a number of requirements from the European Commission’s opinion – what are the next specific steps that the Directorate for European Integration is focusing on in 2025?
“The role of the Directorate is defined by the regulations of the Council of Ministers of BiH, and we are working on many tasks that include technical assistance, coordination, and cooperation with institutions in BiH regarding the use of EU financial assistance, dialogue with the European Commission within the framework of implementing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, reporting to the Commission on the implementation of priorities, harmonising legislation, translating regulations, providing training for public administration working on EU accession tasks, and communicating with different target groups about the accession process.
Currently, our focus is on preparing public administration at all levels of government in BiH for accession negotiations, especially the first phase known as screening.
In cooperation with bilateral partners, we have organised a series of specialised training sessions for nearly 900 civil servants across all levels of government, and the Directorate is also preparing various materials that will be useful for individual tasks during the screening process.
It is essential that public administration performs this first phase properly, as screening – the thorough analysis of the alignment of domestic legislation with EU laws – forms the foundation for everything that follows in the negotiations.”
Citizens of the Western Balkans, including BiH, are increasingly voicing their expectations that this new phase of enlargement will be fairer and more efficient. How can the public be encouraged to remain committed to the European path at a time when tangible progress is being seen?
“The latest public opinion survey by the Directorate for European Integration, published in August 2024, still shows a high level of support for EU membership at 71.2%. However, it also shows that most BiH citizens want to know how this process impacts their everyday lives.
It is crucial to show citizens in concrete terms how EU financial assistance or new laws aligned with EU regulations improve their daily lives – from better justice and governance to a more secure business environment and new investments.
At the Directorate, for example, we strive to work with the media as key partners in communicating about the EU accession process, giving these topics a human dimension and thereby making them more relatable to the public.”
(EUpravo zato)
