Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has voiced support for Bosnia-Herzegovina to become a candidate for European Union membership during a visit to the Balkan country's capital, Sarajevo.
“During my meetings today I wanted to highlight the opportunity that would be for Bosnia and Herzegovina if the European Union would take its enlargement with a new sense of urgency," Sanchez said at a press conference on July 30.
Sanchez said Spain supports Bosnia's “European perspective.” He expressed hope that the country would take necessary steps to become a membership candidate by the time Spain takes over the EU's rotating presidency in the second half of 2023.
"During the last European Council (meeting), I told my fellow heads of governments (of) my full support in favor or Bosnia and Herzegovina being designated a candidate country.” said Sanchez.
Sanchez traveled to Sarajevo from Serbia, where he kicked off his tour of the Balkan region on July 29. Sanchez will also travel to Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania.
Yet Bosnia, still dominated by nationalist politicians long after the end of the 1992-95 war, has been locked in political and ethnic disputes that have stalled the country's EU membership bid.
Bosnia's Serbs, backed by Russia, have sought to win more independence for their Serb-run half of the country, while disagreements between the Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslim, and Croats have blocked the normal functioning of their joint entity.
The political stalemate has sparked concerns that Bosnia could face further ethnic divisions if left behind in the EU process. Some regional leaders have called for Bosnia-Herzegovina to be granted EU candidate status along with Ukraine and Moldova in June to show the European Union's commitment to the volatile region.