Bosnia and Herzegovina to Apply for EU Membership Within Two Months

Bosnia and Herzegovina could apply for EU membership in one-two months’ time, in order to launch a process that will conclude in the country gaining candidate status for EU membership, according to the country’s Chairman of the Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic,

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Bosnia and Herzegovina intends to apply for EU membership within the next two months, the country’s Chairman of the Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic said Friday.

“We intend to apply for membership in one-two months’ time, in order to launch a process that will conclude in the country gaining candidate status [for EU membership],” Zvizdic told reporters.

The Stabilization and Association Council between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union held its first meeting earlier on Friday.

The first stage of the country's accession to the bloc, which includes the creation of a free trade zone — regulated by the Stabilization and Association agreement — came into force on June 1.

In March, the European Commission said that "meaningful progress" in the implementation of the Reform Agenda was necessary for the bloc to consider a membership application from Sarajevo.