The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after meeting with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, stated that EU enlargement would be an absolute priority during her second term at the head of the European Commission.
Following her visit yesterday to the flood-stricken areas in Donja Jablanica, von der Leyen reiterated her support for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the people affected by the disaster.
“The European Union stands with you, and we will continue to support you. Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, many countries responded immediately, showing how many friends Bosnia and Herzegovina has, how much it is valued in the region, and how many partners are ready to help,” von der Leyen said.
She also mentioned the Solidarity Fund, which is regularly used by member states during disasters but is also accessible to candidate countries.
“We will certainly consider it, but we thought it necessary to provide immediate help, which is why we decided to mobilize €20 million without delay. The recovery and reconstruction phase will be supported through the Solidarity Fund,” she added.
Von der Leyen welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s commitment to the European path, noting that the country has made significant progress, achieving candidate status through determination and hard work. She emphasized that a positive decision on opening accession negotiations was made in March of this year.
“Much work remains in preparing for the formal opening of negotiations. I know you are working hard on adopting laws in key areas, such as democratic issues and the rule of law, and I sincerely hope that this country will make further progress on its European path. Bosnia and Herzegovina has repeatedly proven in the past that you can achieve great things when acting in unity, and I hope we will see more of this unified approach in the future,” von der Leyen said.
Speaking about the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, she explained that it serves as a roadmap to allow the integration of certain economic activities into the EU single market during these phases.
“We are opening the market to companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but reforms are needed to ensure equal conditions for all. Financial support will accompany these reforms. We are here to help finalize the Growth Plan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina undoubtedly deserves this opportunity,” she added.
Von der Leyen also mentioned the investment plan for the Western Balkans, now in its fourth year, highlighting its achievements.
“So far, it has shown stable results, mobilizing over €3 billion in investments, particularly in clean energy. The EU aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and it is essential that we work together, not only with member states but also with aspiring members, towards this goal,” she explained.
Chair Krišto emphasized that the government has demonstrated responsibility by fulfilling its obligations through work and consensus in decision-making.
“We are aware of our responsibilities in preparing for the intergovernmental conference, the negotiation framework, and appointing the chief negotiator, two deputies, and the national coordinator for IPA fund implementation,” Krišto said.
She added that they are committed to meeting the upcoming obligations, especially legislative tasks, including laws on border control, the judiciary, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), personal data protection, and election law reforms to align with European standards and Constitutional Court decisions.
Regarding the Growth Plan, Krišto acknowledged that the bar has been set high for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but noted that 111 of the 113 proposed measures have been agreed upon.
“Only two measures remain unresolved, related to the Constitutional Court and decision-making in the Competition Council and the State Aid Council. Despite our efforts, including private talks and appeals, we have not reached agreement on the draft reform agenda. As a result, I informed the European Commission on September 17 and now await their response,” Krišto explained.
She also mentioned that through informal discussions, they have been informed that three additional measures are expected.
“The Growth Plan applies equally to all countries. These measures relate to visa policies, anti-corruption and anti-crime efforts, and budget monitoring. Once we receive them in writing, we will inform our EU Growth Plan working team and work diligently to address them,” Krišto concluded.