EU leaders clear path for membership talks with Bosnia

EU leaders on Thursday conditionally agreed to open formal talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina on joining the European Union, European Council President Charles Michel said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Today’s decision is a key step forward on your EU path," Michel wrote, addressing the Western Balkan nation. "Now the hard work needs to continue so Bosnia and Herzegovina steadily advances, as your people want," he said.

The decision means membership negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina are officially open, but it does not allow Brussels and Sarajevo to actually start talking yet, diplomats told dpa.

Bosnia-Herzegovina will first need to demonstrate further progress on matters such as judicial reform and tackling corruption.

It will then fall to the European Commission to propose a plan or for the talks - called a negotiating framework - which will need the unanimous approval of member states' EU affairs ministers.

"It's a bit of a mixed message," explained Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as he arrived at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. "Yes, we will support the commission proposal to open negotiations," he said.

However, "before the negotiating framework can be agreed upon, it's crucial that Bosnia will fulfil all the necessary actions," Rutte said.