Bosnia yesterday formally submitted its application to join the 28-nation European Union in a milestone for a country that has gone through bloody years after the break-up of Yugoslavia. The application marks the beginning of a new era, a huge step in its march towards a peaceful and prosperous future and towards forging closer ties with a union that can protect its borders and interests. It’s also the culmination of years of efforts to conform to the strict guidelines of the European Union to qualify for membership. Dragon Covic, the chairman of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency, submitted the application to Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, whose country currently holds the six-month EU rotating presidency. “It is a great pleasure to be able to (submit this application) on behalf of the people of Bosnia-Hercegovina ... Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks. There is no way back for Bosnia-Herzegovina, we must catch up with our neighbors,” Covic said.
The Yugoslav wars were one of the most awful pages of European history, a three-year conflict that cost about 100,000 lives. The country has been deeply divided along ethnic lines since the bitter 1992-1995 war.
Bosnia appeared set to join the bloc in the early 2000s, but deep divisions between its Serb, Croat and Muslim communities thwarted the political and civil society reforms required for membership until last year. Croatia was able to join the bloc in 2013, while Serbia and Montenegro are now making progress towards membership.
Tough negotiations and reforms lie ahead for translating Bosnia’s dream into reality, both of which are time-consuming. Its application for membership comes at a time when the European Union is questioned from within, when it is facing huge challenges, some threatening its very existence. The migrant crisis, which created deep and rancorous divisions within the group, and the planned British referendum on EU exit have shaken the bloc, raising serious questions about its health. Bosnia’s entry is unlikely to change that future, though it underlines the importance of the bloc. “As some forces across our continent are questioning the very existence of our Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application shows that the need of a united European continent is still strong among our peoples,” said EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn in a statement.
But for Bosnia, it’s a huge leap. Its economy is in tatters, and thousands of Bosnians are leaving the country every year in search of better opportunities. The EU membership will open new opportunities to improve its economy, provid job opportunities and strengthen its democratic institutions and further enhance ethnic relations.
Bosnia yesterday formally submitted its application to join the 28-nation European Union in a milestone for a country that has gone through bloody years after the break-up of Yugoslavia. The application marks the beginning of a new era, a huge step in its march towards a peaceful and prosperous future and towards forging closer ties with a union that can protect its borders and interests. It’s also the culmination of years of efforts to conform to the strict guidelines of the European Union to qualify for membership. Dragon Covic, the chairman of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency, submitted the application to Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, whose country currently holds the six-month EU rotating presidency. “It is a great pleasure to be able to (submit this application) on behalf of the people of Bosnia-Hercegovina ... Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks. There is no way back for Bosnia-Herzegovina, we must catch up with our neighbors,” Covic said.
The Yugoslav wars were one of the most awful pages of European history, a three-year conflict that cost about 100,000 lives. The country has been deeply divided along ethnic lines since the bitter 1992-1995 war.
Bosnia appeared set to join the bloc in the early 2000s, but deep divisions between its Serb, Croat and Muslim communities thwarted the political and civil society reforms required for membership until last year. Croatia was able to join the bloc in 2013, while Serbia and Montenegro are now making progress towards membership.
Tough negotiations and reforms lie ahead for translating Bosnia’s dream into reality, both of which are time-consuming. Its application for membership comes at a time when the European Union is questioned from within, when it is facing huge challenges, some threatening its very existence. The migrant crisis, which created deep and rancorous divisions within the group, and the planned British referendum on EU exit have shaken the bloc, raising serious questions about its health. Bosnia’s entry is unlikely to change that future, though it underlines the importance of the bloc. “As some forces across our continent are questioning the very existence of our Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application shows that the need of a united European continent is still strong among our peoples,” said EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn in a statement.
But for Bosnia, it’s a huge leap. Its economy is in tatters, and thousands of Bosnians are leaving the country every year in search of better opportunities. The EU membership will open new opportunities to improve its economy, provid job opportunities and strengthen its democratic institutions and further enhance ethnic relations.
