Bosnia to apply for EU membership despite doubts

Published on 29/01/2016 for E-spaces.eu at e-spaces.eu/?p=12277

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Bosnia will apply for European Union membership on 15th February according to Dragan Čović, the Croat chairman of Bosnia’s three-person rotating presidency.

Optimists within Bosnia-Herzegovina estimate membership could be achieved by early 2017, helped by an EC pledge to fund government reforms and infrastructure to the tune of €1bn and €500m respectively. Likewise, a joint Anglo-German initiative last year funded economic development and reform in the region.

Bosnia follows in the footsteps of fellow Balkan states Croatia by aiming for EU membership, but progress remains dogged by ethnic divisions unsolved by the 1995 Dayton peace agreement: ethnic Serbs threatening secession, civil unrest in 2014, high unemployment.

Critics like Jessie Hronesova have claimed the application is intended to distract from Bosnian political issues like state corruption. EU officials have had difficulty accessing census data and controlling export quotas necessary for membership. Political decentralisation divides the country along ethnic lines into the Republika Srpska and Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, whilst the economy continues to struggle.

“We are focused on having a credible application rather than rush it” said Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak in response to such doubts. Crnadak also emphasised recent progress in relations with neighbouring EU candidates Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.

Obstacles within Bosnia remain despite this optimism. Many in Bosnia are disillusioned with excessive bureaucracy in Brussels, and rising nationalism fed by the Mediterranean refugee influx mirrors that seen across Europe.

“I hope [EU membership] will not produce… xenophobia or similar problems” said Crnadak in admission of such obstacles.

The application will need unanimous agreement from EU ministers, with desire to see Bosnia improve its constitution and human rights record tempered by EC and Bosnian government optimism. Until the vote is cast on 15th February, Bosnian hopes to join the EU remain uncertain.