If Bosnia does not join EU by 2030, EU will lose importance: Minister

BELGRADE, Serbia

Bosnia and Herzegovina's security minister said Tuesday that the EU will lose its importance if his country does not join the bloc by 2030.

Nenad Nesic's remarks came in a joint news conference with the head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Johann Sattler, in the capital, Sarajevo.

"If we do not become an EU member by 2030, the EU will lose its meaning for us. This should be a clear message from all our officials. They tell me 'this is a process.' I agree that this is a process, but there should be an end to every process. Our path to the EU must also have a positive end,'' said Nesic.

He said Bosnia is helping the EU by joining collective security regarding irregular migration.

"Today, we are helping the EU here, and we expect the EU to help us in our membership journey,'' he said.

Sattler said that protecting the borders against irregular migration is a common duty.

"This is our common duty. Of course, there are many EU members who carry a greater burden. This is a common duty and we continue to work on it together,'' said Sattler.

Bosnia and Herzegovina gained EU candidate country status Dec. 15, 2022.