Dutch Government Against Opening Negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina!

(Patria) - The Dutch government has published a "Letter to Parliament" dealing with the issue of European Union enlargement, with a special focus on the Western Balkans.

It states that the country is currently against opening negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The European Commission's 2019 Opinion states that Bosnia and Herzegovina must fulfill 14 priorities to open accession negotiations. As an interim step, Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted candidate status in 2022, with the understanding that the country would take steps related to the 14 priorities," the letter states, which was sent to the Senate in the same format.

The Commission states that Bosnia and Herzegovina has made limited progress on the 14 priorities since then. According to the Commission's opinion, two priorities have been met, Politicki.ba reports.

The Dutch government recognizes the picture painted in the report and shares the Commission's analysis that only limited progress has been made on most of the 14 priorities and regression in the area of freedom of expression.

The government is very concerned about the secessionist rhetoric of President Dodik of Republika Srpska and his continuous undermining of state institutions. The government shares the Commission's analysis that Bosnia and Herzegovina's alignment with the CFSP has improved, but is concerned about the ties of President Dodik and his circle with Russia. The implementation of EU sanctions against Russia also remains a subject of attention.

It concludes that the Government shares the Commission's view that accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina can only be opened when the necessary degree of alignment with the membership criteria is achieved.

"This is by no means the case at the moment."

Numerous EU member states, the document states, may still advocate for the opening of accession negotiations as soon as possible, linking them to the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

"The Government believes that the accession process should remain merit-based and reiterates that negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina can only begin when significant sustainable progress is made on the priorities outlined in the 2019 Opinion," the document states.