SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) – The European Union said Tuesday it will examine whether Bosnia has what it takes to become a member as the bloc continues with plans to expand just months after Britain decided to leave.
EU nations ordered the European Commission to establish whether Bosnia has earned candidate status, a process that could take a year.
A senior Slovak foreign ministry official, Ivan Korcok, said “this is a good day for Bosnia, but for us as well. We are showing that the enlargement strategy and approach to the aspiring countries works.”
The Commission will now send a questionnaire to Bosnia seeking thousands of answers about its suitability to join.
It will assess Bosnia’s economy, the state of democracy in the country, its adherence to the rule of law and human rights, and its ability to respect the obligations of membership.