Csaba Borboly (RO, EPP), Vice-President of Harghita County Council in Romania, has been elected as President of the new European Committee of the Regions (CoR) Working Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his first reaction, he said: “I take on this task with a profound sense of responsibility and clear awareness of the delicate moment we are facing in the relations between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The challenges ahead are significant, but so are the opportunities to strengthen our partnership with BiH local and regional authorities and support our BiH partners on their European path.”
Borboly emphasised that as Chair of the Working Group, his priority will be to listen carefully to local and regional politicians from BiH:
“Our local and regional voices matter. When we are heard, the EU integration process becomes more democratic, more practical, and more connected to people’s real needs. Together, we can show how cooperation leads to progress and prepare for our joint future in the European Union.”
During the inaugural meeting of the Working Group on relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, members discussed the state of play of EU–BiH relations.
Ondřej Kolář (CZ/EPP), standing rapporteur for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Parliament, underlined: “As a former mayor, I very well understand the importance of cooperation on the municipal and regional levels. It is crucial in the whole context of EU accession, because it brings European regions and municipalities closer together, allows them to interconnect, share experiences, and work on projects that deliver concrete results much faster than at the highest levels of political cooperation. BiH is welcome in the EU family. Enlargement is a necessity and benefits both the EU and the candidates. I see the will of the Bosnian people to become part of the European family. The EU’s role now is to guide BiH on the path from Dayton to Brussels and help it overcome the system established at the end of the 20th century.”
Natalie Silva (LU/EPP), Councillor of the Municipality of Larochette, added: “Luxembourg is also a very small country. We have many people from BiH living there. That is why I thought it would be good to join this Working Group—to stay in touch with people from Bosnia living in Luxembourg, and to keep them informed about developments.” She also asked for more details on the status of the ongoing negotiations.
Obrad Kesić, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU, explained that while there is some agreement regarding the proposal to appoint a chief negotiator, political gridlock is preventing progress: “We are still far from a final outcome because of the breakdown of the ruling political coalition in BiH. Without full implementation of the coalition agreements, we cannot move forward. For example, there is agreement that the new court should be located within Republika Srpska, but disagreement remains over which city. Similarly, regarding the chief negotiator, there is agreement that the role should go to someone from Republika Srpska, but disputes over who has the right to nominate them have stalled the process. On paper, progress exists—but practically, we are stuck.”
Resuming the Reform Process
A thematic debate focused on resuming reforms and the role of sub-national authorities. Marija Buhač, Prime Minister of the Herzegovina–Neretva Canton, highlighted: “I am happy to see the establishment of this new CoR Working Group and hope for the launch of a Joint Consultative Committee soon, where BiH local and regional leaders can take an equal part in shaping EU–BiH relations at sub-national level. BiH is facing its biggest political and security crisis—it is not a simple situation, and it requires urgent solutions. The only way forward is EU accession. BiH must stay on the course of EU membership.”
Natalie Silva (LU/EPP), Councillor of the Municipality of Larochette also asked how small municipalities like hers with limited staff will receive the necessary support for EU integration. Dubravko Bilić, Mayor of Ludbreg, President of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) spoke on the need to invest in digitalisation and the need to train staff.
Work Programme 2025–2030
During the meeting, members approved the Working Group’s work programme for 2025–2030, which focuses on:
• Strengthening cooperation between local and regional authorities in the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Supporting reforms and helping BiH align with EU rules through exchange of best practices and capacity building.
• Promoting European values such as democracy, rule of law, respect for human and minority rights, and sustainable development.
Background information
Bosnia and Herzegovina is experiencing its most acute crisis since the Dayton Peace Agreement 30 years ago. Tensions have escalated, particularly since a court ruling against Republika Srpska President Dodik triggered an institutional crisis, undermining trust in the rule of law and straining relations between different levels of government and the EU.
BiH now stands at a crossroads: one path leads to division and uncertainty, the other to reconciliation, reform, and a peaceful future as part of the European Union.
Local and regional authorities can play a decisive role in supporting BiH’s EU membership path. The Working Group aims to provide a platform for open dialogue, trust-building, and practical cooperation. It builds on the legacy of the former CoR Working Group on the Western Balkans, which operated until February 2025, but will now focus specifically on BiH’s unique challenges.