BiH has lost another year on EU path: EU official

SARAJEVO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has effectively lost another year in making tangible progress toward European integration and could face further cuts in European Union (EU) funding if it fails to meet the conditions for implementing the Western Balkans Growth Plan by the end of this year, the head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative Luigi Soreca said Wednesday.

File photo: AFP

Soreca made the remarks while speaking to local media after presenting the European Commission's Bosnia and Herzegovina Report 2026 to Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers Borjana Kristo.

He said the report's key message was clear: EU integration remained BiH's strategic goal, but the country was increasingly drifting away from its European path.

Referring to BiH's general elections held on Oct. 4, Soreca said political divisions had deepened and anti-EU rhetoric had increased, while political statements had failed to advance the reform process.

He noted progress in areas including the fight against organized crime, intellectual property protection and customs policy, as well as BiH's full alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.

However, he stressed that the overall picture showed BiH was missing important opportunities and falling behind its neighbors in the EU accession process. Significant shortcomings remained, particularly in the judiciary, the fight against corruption and freedom of expression.

In a statement following its meeting on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers said BiH's senior officials had expressed their willingness to continue joint efforts, demonstrate full responsibility and work with the European Commission to establish a roadmap for the country's future EU accession.

BiH was granted EU candidate status in 2022, and the European Council agreed in March 2024 to open accession negotiations once the country meets the necessary conditions.