Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina - along with other Western Balkans countries – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in June 2003.

Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens benefits of visa-free travel to the Schengen area since 2010. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) entered into force on 1 June 2015; its trade provisions have been applied since 2008, leading to progressive trade liberalisation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in February 2016. The Commission adopted its Opinion (Avis) on the EU membership application of the country in May 2019, identifying 14 key priorities for the country to fulfil in view of opening EU accession negotiations. The EU Council endorsed the Opinion and key priorities in December 2019. The Opinion constitutes a comprehensive roadmap for deep reforms in the areas of democracy/functionality, the rule of law, fundamental rights and public administration reform.

In October 2022, the Commission recommended Bosnia and Herzegovina for candidate status, on the understanding that a number of steps are taken. In December 2022, the European Council granted Bosnia and Herzegovina the status of candidate country. In December 2023, the European Council decided it will open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved. It also invited the Commission to report to the Council on progress at the latest in March 2024, with a view to making a decision.

Building on the Commission’s recommendation of 12 March 2024, the European Council decided in March 2024 to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European Council invited 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 2022 are taken.

Common Foreign and Security Policy and the European Security and Defence Policy

The EU continues to deploy considerable resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The EU Special Representative (EUSR), Johann Sattler, is also Head of the Delegation of the European Union.

The EU military mission EUFOR Althea is present since 2004 in Bosnia and Herzegovina with an executive mandate of the UN Security Council to support the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in maintaining a stable and secure environment in the country.

More information on the country's relations with the EU

• Bosnia and Herzegovina 2024 Enlargement Package Factsheet
• Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023 Enlargement Package Factsheet
• Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EIP/WBIF