During a summit held in Brussels on Thursday, leaders from the European Union (EU) reached a consensus to initiate accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The announcement came from European Council President Charles Michel via social media platform X, coinciding with a summit in Brussels. "This decision marks a key step forward on Bosnia and Herzegovina's path towards EU membership," Michel stated, extending congratulations to the country.

Echoing these sentiments, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lauded the move as "historic." She acknowledged Bosnia and Herzegovina's advancements in key legislation, migration management, and efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina formally applied for EU membership in 2016 and achieved candidate status in December 2022. This latest decision paves the way for the country to begin formal discussions on aligning its laws and institutions with EU standards, a critical step towards eventual membership. (ILKHA)