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SARAJEVO/BRUSSELS, December 12 (FENA) - On Thursday, Bosnia and Herzegovina will receive the candidate status for membership in the European Union. This was stated in the draft document that was leaked to the public. Therefore, the Council of the European Union proposes to the European Council that Bosnia and Herzegovina approve the status of a candidate country for EU membership.
We are publishing the allegedly leaked text of the document in its entirety:
- Following the European Council Conclusions of 23-24 June 2022, and in light of theCommission's subsequent recommendation of 12 October 2022, the Council recommends to grant the status of candidate country to Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to confirmation by the European Council, on the understanding that the steps specified in the Commission's recommendation are taken, in order to strengthen the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organised crime, migration management and fundamental rights.
The Council looks forward to a confirmation of this decision by the December European Council. In the current geopolitical context, the Council underlines the urgency for the country to move forward on its EU path, in particular via fulfilling all 14 key priorities for the opening of EU accession negotiations identified in the Commission's Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for EU membership as endorsed by the Council in 2019.
The Council also calls on all political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to swiftly implement the commitments set out in the agreement reached on 12 June 2022 and urgently finalise the constitutional and electoral reform in line with the key priorities.
The Council welcomes the holding of general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 2 October 2022. According to the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, the elections were overall competitive and well organised but marked by mistrust in public institutions and ethnically divisive rhetoric.
Ensuring that elections are conducted in line with European standards is a key priority set out in the Commission Opinion. The EU expects functioning legislatures and governments to be swiftly set up at State, entity and cantonal level to focus on reforms on the EU path.
The Council further reiterates its unequivocal commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU perspective as a single, united and sovereign country - the document states.
(FENA) L. N.
