EU accession is not only a national project. It is a local project
“EU accession is not only a national project. It is a local project. And it will succeed if you, the mayors, are in the drivers seat”. This was the message of Csaba Borboly, Vice-President of Harghita County Council in Romania and President of the new European Committee of the Regions Working Group on Bosnia & Herzegovina, during a conference in Sarajevo on Engaging Municipalities and Cities in the EU accession process in BiH.”
Speaking at a session on the role of local governments in EU accession, Borboly underlined that the new Working Group is not just another Brussels structure. Instead, it offers a chance for local leaders to shape decisions much earlier than in previous enlargements:
- Peer-to-peer learning opportunities between EU and BiH municipalities
- Early preparation for EU funds to maximise local investments
- A stronger local voice in Brussels to influence policy before it is decided
“In past accessions, local governments were often invited too late. They were asked to implement EU rules after they were already decided. Our ambition now is different: we want mayors from Bosnia and Herzegovina to be co-designers, not just executors. ” Borboly stressed.
Why local involvement matters
Joining the EU has a profound impact on local authorities as service providers, employers, regulators, procurers of goods and services, investors, and upholders of standards. According to the European Committee of the Regions, the local and regional level is responsible for implementing more than 70% of EU legislative acts.
The experience of Croatia highlights the importance of local readiness: after 2013, almost 80% of local public investments came from EU funds. Yet too often, municipalities in candidate countries have been brought into the process too late—resulting in compliance problems, missed opportunities for funding, and weaker connections between the EU and its citizens.
Bosnia & Herzegovina already taking steps
The Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMCs) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska, together with the Directorate for European Integration (DEI), are determined to avoid this scenario. Initiatives already launched include:
- Tailor-made DEI training for local representatives on EU topics
- Coaching to help municipalities apply for EU territorial cooperation projects
- Measures to ease financial constraints on participation
- Networks of EU officers in municipalities
- Assessment of how selected chapters of the EU acquis will impact the local level
The 1st meeting of the Working Group on relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina takes place in Brussels on 22 September 2025, and will include a thematic debate on ‘Resuming the reform process: the role of sub-national authorities and capacity building needs.’
