A summit in Brussels (Photo: AFP/VNA)

EU leaders approved the decision at a summit in Brussels following a recommendation by the European Commission in October and votes in the EU Council and General Affairs Council this week.

In order to qualify for candidate status, Bosnia had to fulfill a long list of conditions designed to bolster democracy and the rule of law, including undergoing structural reforms of the judiciary and implementing constitutional and electoral changes.

North Macedonia was granted candidate status 17 years ago but only started accession negotiations this year. Albania was granted candidate status in 2014 but has only just begun negotiations to join the EU. Five other countries who have been given EU candidate status are Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine, and Moldova.