Serb, Croat leaders criticize EU for failing to grant candidate status to Bosnia

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Milorad Dodik, the Serbian member of Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidential Council, and Croatian President Zoran Milanovic criticized the failure Friday of the EU to grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the EU Leaders' Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

"Some EU leaders see Bosnia and Herzegovina as a colony," Dodik said on social media.

Dodik thanked the countries that supported Bosnia and Herzegovina at the summit.

Milanovic criticized Croatian government officials who did not express an opinion on granting status to Ukraine and Moldova, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He pointed out that Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina attach importance to the EU integration of the country and that the three peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina -- Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs -- want the country to get EU membership status.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina remains 'Switzerland' next to Ukraine. I am glad that Ukraine received candidate status even though it is not a functional state," said Milanovic.

Western Balkans leaders criticized the EU for the slow progress on their EU membership bids.

Council President Charles Michel said Bosnia will receive candidate status once it implements reforms in 14 policy areas.

The Balkans is home to three EU candidate states -- Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia. Türkiye is also a candidate country.