The European Commission published the following press release.
European Union – Bosnia and Herzegovina 2nd High Level Political Forum 5 December 2023, Brussels Co-Chair’s Conclusions
The European Commission, represented by the Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood, Olivér Várhelyi, and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, organised and co-chaired the second European Union – Bosnia and Herzegovina High Level Political Forum (hereafter Forum).
The Forum was further attended by the Deputy Chairs of the Council of Ministers, the members of the Joint Collegium and the Heads of Clubs of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Prime Ministers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of Republika Srpska, the Prime Ministers of ten Cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Mayor of Brcko District
As agreed at the 1st Forum in Sarajevo on 17 May 2023, the participants reconvened the Forum within six months to continue monitoring the implementation of the steps outlined in the 2022 European Commission recommendation and to report on further progress on the ground.
In November 2023, the Commission recommended the opening of EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved.
To support the efforts of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path, the participants to the Forum reviewed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress, with a special focus on the Opinion key priorities and the steps outlined in the recommendation for candidate status as well as the urgent call to finalise the pending constitutional and electoral reforms.
The participants acknowledged the political opportunity provided by the Commission recommendation to open EU accession negotiations, and the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to deliver on further reforms. The participants expect that Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue with delivering on reforms. The representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina are determined that the necessary level of compliance with the membership criteria can be achieved during December 2023. The Commission will report to the Council on progress at the latest in March 2024.
The participants agreed to reconvene the Forum in 6 months time.
