What is the EU to us

In the literature dealing with regional cooperation of the Western Balkan countries, it is almost unanimously confirmed that EU membership, along with NATO membership, is the most important goal of these countries.

European integration has spurred the process of cooperation in the region and goes hand in hand with it, which is not surprising. Possible EU membership was a decisive motive in the efforts of Central and Eastern European countries to develop stability, democracy, and economic reforms during the 1990s.

In this way, the EU has proven that, with its attractive power and the example of granting membership to Central and Eastern European countries, it can be a "pillar" for political and economic transition.

The EU itself was built on the foundations of regional cooperation. Europe as we know it today was constructed on the ruins of Europe after World War II, which greatly resemble the countries of the Western Balkans in the year 2000. From that situation, it managed to find a path to recovery and the establishment of peace precisely through regional cooperation and economic integration.

Also, the choice of economic integration as a basis for establishing lasting peace and recovery was not accidental. Great ethnic differences, as well as the mistrust that followed the war, were very similar to the situation in which the Western Balkan countries found themselves after 2000.

Economic integration led to the transformation of former enemies into future business partners, forming a relationship based on common interests and profit. This reduced the "conflict potential," which is otherwise easily built in the absence of economic and personal ties.

The regional approach strategy for the countries of Southeast Europe, inaugurated in 1997, was created with the aim of overcoming the consequences of war destruction by creating basic stability and progress in the democratization of societies.

In the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, these goals were achieved through support for the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The approach to Bosnia and Herzegovina was realized by establishing Consultative Task Forces (CTF) in 1998 based on European Union guidelines that contained minimum requirements as a prerequisite for commencing the Feasibility Study.

In 1999, the European Commission proposed a modification of the regional approach through the Stabilization and Association Process for the countries of Southeast Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), which improved the existing European Union policy towards the countries of the region.

The process envisages the signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement – a new type of contractual relationship with the EU, aimed at stabilizing the countries in the region by bringing them closer to European integration. Stabilization and Association Agreements are adapted to the circumstances in each country.

After the formation of the Consultative Task Forces, in March 2000, the EU, through its Guidelines for Bosnia and Herzegovina (Roadmap), marked the direction of reforms necessary for further qualification in European integration.

The reforms related to undertaking political and economic measures, as well as measures in the areas of human rights protection, democracy, and the rule of law, elaborated in 18 conditions. It can be stated that the initial voluntary harmonization of Bosnia and Herzegovina's legislation with parts of the acquis began in 2000, during the fulfillment of the Roadmap conditions.

Since 2002, the European Commission has regularly monitored the situation and the process of European integration of the Western Balkan countries and compiles Progress Reports for each individual country every year to present them to the European Council and the European Parliament.

In the Report, according to the same structure each year, the situation in the country is assessed according to the established Copenhagen criteria. Therefore, it is an analysis of the situation regarding the political and economic criteria for membership, and an assessment of the country's ability to implement European standards, i.e., to harmonize state legislation and policies with the EU acquis communautaire.

By establishing the Copenhagen criteria in 1993, for the first time in the history of the enlargement of the Community and the Union, it was defined which issues, or conditions, must be met for a country to become a member of the Union. In all previous enlargements, the accession conditions were the subject of an accession agreement between the member states of the Union and the candidate country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina participates in the Stabilization and Association Process. The Interim Agreement has been applied since 2008. The implementation of the Interim Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains uneven. The country continues to violate the SAA due to non-compliance with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as state aid rules.

Within the framework of the Stabilization and Association Process, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to constructively participate with the EU in the structured dialogue on the judiciary. The process was established with the aim of further consolidating an independent, effective, impartial, and accountable judicial system in line with relevant EU standards.