Events

Europe and the EU

Prospects integration Bosnia & Herzegovina into the EU
27 Jun 2019 15:30 - 17:30
Bron: The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik (L) and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn (R) in Brussels. Photo: EPA/Stephanie Lecocq
Inleiding

This event is on invitation. If you are interested in participating, please send a mail to events@clingendael.org 

Since 2015, a Stabilization and Association Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the European Union (EU) is in place, aimed at fostering the integration of the country into the EU. BiH submitted its application for membership to the EU in 2016, but on 29 May 2019 the Commission published a negative advise on starting accession negotiations, noting that “Bosnia and Herzegovina does not yet sufficiently fulfill the criteria related to the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities”.

While the country has made progress, the Commission notes that “Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to improve its electoral framework and the functioning of the judiciary”, as well as that the country “will need to reform its institutions to be able to effectively participate in EU decision-making and to fully implement and enforce the acquis”.

In this seminar, Mr. Damir Arnaut, Member of Parliament of Bosnia Herzegovina, will present the challenges, obligations and opportunities facing Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to EU membership, and explain the internal dynamics within the country that make EU-demanded reforms a particularly challenging endeavor.

Programme

15:30: Registration, tea and coffee

16:00-17:30: Seminar with Mr. Damir Arnaut - Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina

17:30: Informal reception

The session is moderated by Jan Marinus Wiersma (Clingendael Institute)