Bosnia and Herzegovina has just been nominated as candidates for the European Union (EU). The country was proclaimed a possible candidate in 2003 and its official application was made in 2016, but until this year it has not been a candidate. Although the selection process has been long, the annexation process has every aspect of going the same way: they have placed 14 conditions on the country, including corruption and the fight against organised crime or government stability. This last condition may be particularly difficult in Bosnia, where there are three presidents and an autonomous internal republic.

The news of Bosnia comes at a very special time: In the midst of the war in Ukraine. The decision taken by the European Commission is geostrategic to keep countries around the war in orbit. In fact, it should be noted that in June this year it offered Ukraine the same status as it offered to Bosnia. But these are not the only countries in Eastern Europe: for years the Balkan countries have entered Europe. In the same state as Bosnia are Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Moldova.

The statement by Bosnia coincides with the official request of Kosovo. In this case, the country is possible candidate, but it will have quite a few problems in becoming an official candidate, as some EU states do not recognise it, Spain, Cyprus, Romania, Greece and Slovakia.

Long way ahead

The Bosnian Government is taking the overwhelmed news because it believes it is a sign of its “steps forward”. It now has fourteen parallel objectives and if they are achieved, the process begun two decades ago will be completed. These objectives were set by the European Commission in 2019 for Bosnia to follow the EU’s “criteria”.

It should be noted that the situation in Bosnia is complex, as is the situation in the Balkans as a whole. Bosnia is the sum of many ethnic groups and religions, although the other countries are more homogeneous. There is nothing else to do with the structure of the post-war country. It is a country divided into three main ethnic groups, each with its political representatives, alternating in government. Moreover, in the State itself there are two autonomous bodies, each with its distribution of powers: Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Srpska (Serbian republic).

European conditions will bring far-reaching reforms to the country. They are asking them for measures against organised crime and to prevent it, as well as tax and legal reform. These reforms cannot be understood without the condition of maintaining the political balance of the country. The lack of cooperation between the two institutions, the Federation and the Republic, makes it extremely difficult to exercise the judiciary, as the members of the Mafia flee from one to the other.

Steps have been taken in recent years to bring us closer to those “criteria” called for by Europe, one of which is the referendum on the judiciary in the Republic of Serbia in October 2022. However, it is likely that the country that best reflects the situation in the Balkans will have a long process ahead.