Bosnia today formally submitted an application to join the EU, hoping to catch up with its Balkan neighbours after years lost following the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia.
In the early 2000s, Bosnia appeared set to join the now 28-nation European Union but deep divisions between its Serb, Croat and Muslim communities blocked the political and civil society reforms demanded by Brussels for membership until last year.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, whose country holds the six-month EU rotating presidency, said the bloc was happy to see "Bosnia back on the reform path".
"It is urgent to maintain the positive momentum by continuing to implement reforms," Koenders said, stressing that the EU would look carefully at what would likely take some years.
Dragan Covic, the chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, said he submitted the application on behalf of all the people of Bosnia-Hercegovina -- Croats, Serbs and Bosniaks.
Covic noted that Croatia had joined the bloc in 2013, while Serbia and Montenegro were now making progress towards membership too.
Facing "years of many challenges ahead," Bosnia needed to improve its economy and show that it could be a "credible" member of the EU, he said.
