The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

EP Plenary session - 2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brian Hoyt YEE Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of State

Conference on the ' European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina - 20 Years after Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement '

In a debate with the Commission and the Belgian Presidency, MEPs outline their expectations for the 21 -22 March EU summit. During their meeting in Brussels, heads of state or government focus on the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine and the EU’s continued support for Ukraine. They also discuss the war in the Gaza Strip and the situation in the Middle East as well as security and defence issues. The Commission also wants to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Opening statements by Hadja LAHBIB, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Federal Cultural Institutions and Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Council and Commission statements - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2024: Opening statements by Council and Commission

MEPs debate the 2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) m by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). The report welcomes the European Council's decision to grant candidate status to BiH in the context of a changed geopolitical reality, on the understanding that a number of steps are taken to strengthen the country’s readiness for accession negotiations; reiterates its clear support for BiH’s EU integration, grounded in unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The report also recognises the importance of the Western Balkans in the EU’s enlargement policy, and urges the EU to accelerate the accession process for BiH, based on its own merits. MEPs debate

2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina: MEPs debate

MEPs debate the 2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) m by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). The report welcomes the European Council's decision to grant candidate status to BiH in the context of a changed geopolitical reality, on the understanding that a number of steps are taken to strengthen the country’s readiness for accession negotiations; reiterates its clear support for BiH’s EU integration, grounded in unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The report also recognises the importance of the Western Balkans in the EU’s enlargement policy, and urges the EU to accelerate the accession process for BiH, based on its own merits. Closing by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT)

2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina: Closing by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT)

On the 14th September 2022, Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, delivers her State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech in the European Parliament. This infoclip illustrates one of the main stake of the coming year: the future of the Europea Union. Following the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoe) which took place from May 2021 to May 2022, EU citizens have asked for a revision of the treaties and a reconstruction of the EU. Furthermore, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have been granted the candidate status to join the EU, while discussions to enlarge the European Union to Western Balkans countries are ongoing.

Infoclip: Future of the European Union

During the plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs assess the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Opening statements by Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

2021 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina: opening statements by Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

MEPs and the European Commission review together the latest developments in the Western Balkans and assess the political situation in three accession countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia. Extracts from the debates.

EU enlargement to Western Balkans - Political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia: extracts from the debates

During the plenary session (23-24 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Closing statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina: closing statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

During the plenary session (23-24 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Opening statement by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), rapporteur, Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina: opening statements by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), rapporteur, Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

During the plenary session (23-24 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina: MEPs debate

The Audiovisual Service of the European Commission has produced a series of new video stockshots with illustrative images of the capitals and countryside of the Western Balkans. This infoclip illustrates Bosnia and Herzegovina

Infoclip: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, and Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, speak to the press after the College meeting, during the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg.

Read-out of the College meeting of 06/02/2018 by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Johannes HAHN, on Western Balkans Strategy

During the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the decision adopted on the EU Enlargement Strategy - Western Balkans. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO) and Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK).

Decision adopted on the EU Enlargement Strategy - Western Balkans: extracts from the debate

During the EP Plenary session (13-16/02) in Strasbourg, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and Demetris PAPADAKIS (S&amp;D, CY) debate on 2016 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results from the vote on the Preda report are: 496 in favour, 132 against, 67 abstention. The resolution is adotped.

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