The European Commission has recommended candidacy status for Bosnia-Herzegovina but attached a long list of conditions designed to bolster democracy in the Balkan country.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on October 12 told a European Parliament committee that the commission "recommends that candidate status be granted" to Bosnia by the member states pending eight conditions.
"We are doing this for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But it also comes with great expectations. It is up to the elite to make it a reality," Varhelyi said.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU's executive arm, said a "wind of change is once again blowing through Europe" and the EU must "capture this momentum."
She reiterated the commission's position that the Western Balkans belong in the EU, which has noted that Russia and China are vying for clout in the region.
SEE ALSO: Schmidt Says Bosnian Election-Night Decrees Have Country 'On Right Track'Von der Leyen said the EU's opponents look at the Balkans as "a geopolitical chessboard," seeking to "drive a wedge between the region and the rest of Europe."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Russia's invasion of Ukraine had underlined the importance of EU enlargement and its geopolitical significance.
"It is a long-term investment into peace, prosperity and stability for our continent," he said.
Bosnia’s foreign minister welcomed the decision, which came more than six years after Bosnia formally applied to join the EU.
"This sends a strong message to the citizens [of Bosnia], one we have been hoping to get even earlier, that our future is as a member of the [EU] family," Bisera Turkovic said on Twitter.
"The reviving of this process is of vital importance for the citizens and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the stabilization of the whole region," Turkovic added.
The eight conditions include steps to fight corruption and organized crime, judicial and immigration reforms, and guarantees of freedom of expression and the protection of journalists.
Varhelyi warned Bosnia's leaders to move swiftly, saying that with elections now over, institutions are expected to be formed quickly so that they can focus on the conditions.
"On our side, we made now a leap, a leap of faith," he said. "Now the leadership must be there to deliver."
SEE ALSO: Bosnia Orders Recount Of All Ballots Cast In Serbian Entity During Presidential VoteVarhelyi announced the possibility of the European Commission deciding on candidate status for Bosnia at an EU summit in December.
The commission can only advise which countries should become EU candidates. The final decision lies with member states, and they must agree unanimously.