EU chief urges Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance judicial reforms to open accession talks
Ursula von der Leyen says appointing chief negotiator to steer accession process is of 'utmost importance'
BRUSSELS
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called on Bosnia and Herzegovina to step up efforts in judicial reform to pave the way for the country's first intergovernmental conference with the EU.
"The priority is to hold the first intergovernmental conference. To pave the way for this, you need to pass the right reforms in the field of the judiciary," von der Leyen said during a joint press conference with Borjana Kristo, the chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo.
She underlined that appointing a chief negotiator to steer the accession process is of "utmost importance," emphasizing that the person "needs all of your trust" to ensure focus, perseverance, and unity in the talks.
"We are friends of all communities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And the future of all these communities is in the European Union," she said.
Von der Leyen also said she was "deeply moved" by her visit to Srebrenica, as she paid tribute to victims of the 1995 genocide. "The European Union will always remember the Srebrenica genocide. And we will never allow history to be rewritten," she added.
Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in 2016 and was granted candidate status in 2022, with accession negotiations yet to begin pending key judicial and constitutional reforms.
Earlier Tuesday, she held a press conference with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic in Tivat and praised his country’s progress in its EU accession process, saying it is "on a good track" to become the bloc’s 28th member by 2028.
She commended Montenegro's "amazing speed" in closing four negotiating chapters since her last visit and said five more are expected to be completed this year.
The European Commission president also welcomed Montenegro's entry into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and confirmed that roaming charges between the EU and Montenegro will be abolished next year.
Montenegro applied for EU membership in 2008, began accession negotiations in 2012, and is currently the frontrunner among Western Balkan candidates, having opened all negotiating chapters.
