Bosnia fails to deliver on any of its 113 EU reform commitments

Bosnia and Herzegovina has failed to fully implement any of the 113 key reforms outlined in the Reform Agenda submitted to the European Commission, with delays now putting at risk nearly €1 billion in EU funding.

Authorities have set deadlines for most of the measures only for late 2025 or 2026, while Sarajevo has yet to sign the necessary protocol agreements with the EU, meaning the country has not received the first €70 million tranche in grants.

The delays cast doubt over funding for key projects aimed at modernising the energy sector, roads and railways, as well as the digitalisation of public services and society in the only European country outside Ukraine without a 5G network.

Part of the funding is tied to progress on judicial reform, anti-corruption measures and safeguarding fundamental democratic rights.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina risks losing hundreds of millions of euros if the necessary reforms are not completed by December 2026. There will be no extension,” Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos warned.

She added that in June the planned allocation of €976.6 million could be reduced by €373.9 million unless the country begins genuinely implementing the promised reforms.

Among the most delayed measures are reforms of the judiciary, including new legislation on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, aimed at limiting political influence and strengthening oversight of judges’ and prosecutors’ assets.

Laws on whistleblower protection, conflicts of interest and public procurement have also yet to be adopted. According to Transparency International, political elites are obstructing reforms in order to preserve control over institutions and the distribution of power.

A further issue remains the lack of coordination between institutions. Lawmakers claim they were not even formally informed of the contents of the reform agenda sent to Brussels.

The energy sector is heavily hit

The energy sector is also among the hardest hit. Bosnia and Herzegovina has yet to align its legislation with EU rules on the liberalisation of electricity and gas markets, establish an electricity exchange, or introduce carbon emissions trading mechanisms.

Experts warn that this will lead to additional costs for citizens and businesses once the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) comes into force. The country is also lagging behind in digitalisation, lacking legislation on electronic identification and e-services, as well as a national strategy for high-speed internet.

Analysts warn that without reforms, Bosnia and Herzegovina risks not only losing EU funding, but also stalling key investments in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Earlier, Bosniak member of the state presidency Denis Bećirović has blamed the Serb nationalist SNSD party of Milorad Dodik for blocking key EU-related legislation and obstructing Bosnia’s European path.

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In May EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca warned that continued political deadlock could cost the country hundreds of millions of euros in lost investment, stressing that “inaction has its consequences”.

Public frustration has also intensified, particularly among younger Bosnians who overwhelmingly support EU accession but increasingly see the country’s fragmented political system as incapable of delivering reforms. Online debates and civil society groups frequently accuse entrenched political elites of prioritising ethnic divisions and patronage networks over economic development and EU integration.

Sources: Radio Free Europe, BGNES

Caption: European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos speaks at a press conference after the ministerial meeting of the member states of the ‘Friends of the Western Balkans’ group at the Bratislava Castle in Bratislava, Slovakia, 12 May 2026. EPA/JAKUB GAVLAK