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URGING UNITY FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA’S EUROPEAN FUTURE

After the European Council meeting in late June 2025, it became clear that a “miracle” would not occur—Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) would not open pre-accession negotiations with the EU. Anticipating that a follow-up meeting of senior representatives of major BiH political parties would be useful regardless of the Council’s outcome, the Council for Inclusive Governance (CIG) organized a new meeting on July 1, 2025, in Buna, near Mostar.

 

The meeting addressed the next steps: what the EU should do to encourage political actors to move forward with reforms needed to open negotiations by the end of the year, and what domestic actors should do to reach at least a minimal consensus. Participants also considered what steps parties should take—internally and publicly—to gain broader support for required reforms. Below is a report from the meeting drafted by CIG’s Senior Associate Dr. Igor Novakovic.