Brussels is advocating for an expedited EU expansion in the Western Balkans

The European Commission is poised to propose that the European Union initiates accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Tuesday, President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU’s executive body will urge member states to commence negotiations with Sarajevo, despite enduring ethnic divisions within the Western Balkan country. This move comes as the West monitors the increasing influence of Russia and China in the region.

Bosnia is one of six Western Balkan nations—alongside Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia—that are at various stages of the EU accession process.

Although efforts were initially made to integrate these countries into the bloc to help resolve the region’s conflicts and crises from the 1990s, impatience has grown due to stalled progress in recent years.

However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the expanding influence of Moscow and Beijing have prompted Western stakeholders to hasten the accession process.

President von der Leyen emphasized the need for proactive engagement, stating, “We have realized that it is not enough to simply wait for the Western Balkans to draw closer to us… We must also take responsibility and support their journey towards our union in every possible manner.”

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