Joint Op-Ed by the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Our shared history is one of solidarity. Sweden played an active role in securing peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and has remained one of its strongest partners ever since. Thousands of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who fled the war found a new home in Sweden. Today, Swedes of Bosnian and Herzegovinian origin are among the most successfully integrated communities in Swedish society. Many call both countries home. They are a living bridge between our nations – investing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating jobs and strengthening economic ties.

For this, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains deeply grateful.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sweden share meaningful cultural and societal affinities, rooted in a shared commitment to European values, secular governance, social cohesion and multiculturalism.

Bosnia and Herzegovina now stands at a historic crossroads. In 2016, the country applied for EU membership. In December 2022, the European Council granted it candidate status. Two years later, the European Commission recommended opening accession negotiations. This is a clear signal: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future is in the EU.

EU membership remains a strategic objective and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foremost foreign policy priority despite internal challenges and rhetoric that risk undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement and the constitutional order.

However, progress depends on action. The next step – opening accession negotiations with the EU – requires Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the requirements established by the EU and its Member States. These reforms are not merely technical requirements. They are essential for building a society based on the same values on which the EU is founded: democracy, the rule of law, human rights and equality.

As Foreign Ministers, we jointly propose three priorities to advance Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to EU membership:

1. Accelerate reform efforts

It is essential that Bosnia and Herzegovina delivers on key fundamental reforms, such as strengthening the judiciary, the rule of law and human rights, fighting corruption and ensuring media freedom. These steps are vital for EU integration and for restoring citizens’ trust in democratic institutions and their elected political leaders. Such reforms will also contribute to economic development and to attracting domestic and foreign investment.

2. Boost regional cooperation

Security and trustful cooperation in the Western Balkans benefit all of Europe. We call for stronger regional dialogue, good neighbourly relations, and deeper economic integration. Enhanced regional cooperation will increase stability, strengthen resilience and make Bosnia and Herzegovina – and the entire region – more competitive, prosperous and better prepared for EU membership.

3. Mobilise support for enlargement

Sweden will continue to be a strong advocate of EU enlargement. Recent polls show that 79 per cent of Swedes support admitting new Member States once requirements have been fulfilled – more than in any other EU country. At the same time, more than 80 per cent of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina believe that EU membership will be beneficial. We will work within the EU to maintain momentum and to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress, based on merit, is recognised.

The latest enlargements of 2004 and 2013 demonstrate that new EU Member States – and the EU as a whole – have benefitted from higher growth, increased income levels and enhanced competitiveness. The ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 saw their GDP per capita increase from 59 per cent of the EU average in 2004 to 81 per cent in 2022.

It is also clear that more than 30 years of EU membership have made Sweden a wealthier and stronger country, while enabling Swedes to work, live and study freely across the Union. Today, the EU Single Market accounts for two-thirds of Swedish exports, and the EU’s free trade agreements have provided access to key markets around the world.

EU integration is also crucial for strengthening European security. EU and NATO integration are complementary and mutually reinforcing pillars of European stability. As Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has reminded us, enlargement is not only about prosperity, it is also about securing lasting peace on our continent.

Sweden remains a strong supporter of Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to EU membership. As one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s largest bilateral donors, Sweden will continue to provide financial assistance and expertise to support reforms. Our cooperation spans a broad range of areas, including strengthening the judiciary and the rule of law, democracy, human rights and gender equality, the green transition, digitalisation and sustainable growth. In this way, we are working together to prepare Bosnia and Herzegovina for a future in the EU.

Bosnia and Herzegovina stands at a key moment on its path to EU membership, which makes Sweden’s continued engagement and support all the more important.

Our message is clear: the door to the European Union is open, and now is the time to seize the moment. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a future in the EU, but the responsibility to move forward lies with domestic leaders. Delivering reforms will bring tangible benefits to the country’s citizens, improve governance, strengthen the economy and contribute to regional and European security.

As we mark more than three decades of bilateral relations, we reaffirm our commitment to this partnership. Together, we can make Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU membership a reality.

Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden

Elmedin Konaković ,Minister for Foreign Affairs of  Bosnia and Herzegovina