The heads of state and government of the EU’s 27 members agreed at a Brussels summit on Thursday to give Bosnia formal candidate status, as the country seeks to join the bloc, dw.com writes.
The move comes as the EU tries to sustain the aspirations of several countries to one day join the bloc, albeit during a period where it’s been almost a decade since a new member joined and when nobody’s accession appears imminent.
Other EU candidates include Albania, Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Also on Thursday, Kosovo formally submitted its application to become a candidate member.
Moldova’s and Ukraine’s candidacy were only confirmed last June, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The European Council’s approval on Thursday effectively ratified a decision negotiated, agreed and announced by lower level EU negotiators earlier in the week.
