On 11 September 2025, the 8th meeting of the Stabilisation and Association (SA) Committee was held in Sarajevo, bringing together representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, co-chaired by the Directorate for European Integration, and the European Commission. The session was observed by delegates from EU Member States and provided an important opportunity to assess progress on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards EU accession.
Key Achievements
The Committee welcomed several important steps taken by Bosnia and Herzegovina, including:
- Adoption of the Law on Personal Data Protection and the Law on Border Control.
- Signature of the Frontex Status Agreement.
- Ratification of the Eurojust Agreement.
- Adoption of the Strategy and Action Plan on Integrated Border Management.
These developments were recognised as significant contributions to the country’s alignment with EU standards.
EU Concerns
At the same time, the European Commission reiterated its serious concerns regarding legislative and political initiatives in the Republika Srpska entity that undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order. The Commission emphasised the need for the orderly conduct of early elections for the Republika Srpska President, in line with the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the decisions of the Central Election Commission.
Steps Towards Accession
To move forward with the opening of EU accession negotiations, Bosnia and Herzegovina must accelerate reforms outlined in the 2022 Commission recommendation, including:
- Legislative measures to strengthen the judiciary (Law on the HJPC, Law on the Court of BiH).
- Appointment of a Chief Negotiator for EU accession talks.
The Commission also stressed the urgency of finalising and submitting the Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, highlighting the benefits for citizens and warning against potential reductions in EU funding allocations.
Other Issues Raised
The European Commission also acknowledged concerns regarding short-term stays in the EU for truck drivers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, promising further dialogue on the matter.
The meeting concluded with the closure of the 8th cycle of technical subcommittees under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the launch of the 9th cycle, marking another step in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU integration process.
