Today, the European Parliament considered the progress of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro on the path to membership in the European Union, with the message that political leaders in BiH should renew their commitment to the European path, end obstructions and implement long-awaited reforms without delay.
In the report on Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was adopted with 478 votes in favor, 116 against and 54 abstentions, European representatives reiterated their support for BiH’s accession to the European Union based on its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The European Parliament called for reforms that will strengthen democratic institutions in BiH, the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and guarantee basic rights to all citizens.
Parliament called on the political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to renew their commitment to membership in the European Union and implement the long-awaited reforms without delay.
They also demanded an end to obstructionism, politically motivated vetoes and divisive rhetoric, which, as stated, hinder BiH’s European aspirations.
Excuses and limited capacity
The European Parliament’s permanent rapporteur for Bosnia and Herzegovina Ondřej Kolář said after the vote that if Europe wants to be stronger, it must become bigger, geographically and politically.
– At the same time, EU membership cannot be taken for granted. We would welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU, but its efforts are often diluted by excuses or limited capacity to reach an agreement even within its own borders, Kolář said.
He added that the EU itself must urgently consider whether the time has come to move towards a model of progressive membership for countries that are truly trying to meet the criteria.
Other reports were also adopted
Today, the European Parliament also adopted reports on the progress of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
In the report on Albania, adopted with 483 votes in favor, 103 against and 70 abstentions, European representatives welcomed the country’s rapid progress in recent years, but stressed that the adopted laws must be fully implemented. They warned that Albania still needs to overcome internal political polarization, strengthen the rule of law and consolidate anti-corruption reforms.
Albania wants to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2027, but the European Parliament emphasizes that the quality of reforms will determine the dynamics of its accession to the EU.
When it comes to Kosovo, the report was adopted with 412 votes in favor, 174 against and 58 abstentions. European representatives praised Kosovo’s continued commitment to EU membership, but expressed concern over the impossibility of forming a functional parliament and government for more than a year.
The Government of Kosovo has been asked to speed up EU-related reforms, especially in the areas of the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and the fight against corruption. The report emphasized that the normalization of relations with Serbia and the implementation of the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements remain crucial for Kosovo’s European ambitions.
The report on Montenegro was adopted with 486 votes in favor, 101 against and 75 abstentions. The European Parliament welcomed Montenegro’s steady progress in EU-related reforms, taking into account the country’s ambition to conclude negotiations by the end of 2026 and become the 28th member of the European Union by 2028.
European representatives, in addition to technical reform criteria, pointed out that the strategic European orientation and the unwavering commitment of political representatives of Montenegro to independent statehood are key political criteria in the accession process.
In the report on North Macedonia, adopted with 411 votes in favor, 120 against and 120 abstentions, the European Parliament reiterated its full support for the country’s commitment to EU membership. At the same time, regret was expressed for the lack of progress since the previous report, especially in the area of the rule of law, judicial reform and the fight against corruption.
European representatives emphasized that political commitment and inter-party cooperation are urgently needed, especially for the adoption of the necessary constitutional amendments that would enable the opening of the first negotiation cluster.
