"The EU initiated in December 2014 a renewed approach to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which provides for the re-sequencing of the conditionalities in order for the country to progress towards the EU and address the socio-economic challenges it faced.

Following the adoption of a written commitment to reforms by the Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions and leadership, the renewed approach led to the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU on 1 June 2015, replacing the Interim Agreement (IA) which had been in force since 2008. In July 2015, the country adopted a Reform Agenda aimed at tackling the difficult socio-economic situation and advancing the rule of law and public administration reforms. Its implementation has continued with meaningful progress. In September 2016, the EU Council invited the European Commission to submit its opinion on the EU membership application of Bosnia and Herzegovina, submitted in February.

Regular political and economic dialogue takes place between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the framework of the SAA/IA structures. Bosnia and Herzegovina initialled in July 2016 a protocol for the technical adaptation of the SAA/IA, to take into account its bilateral traditional trade with Croatia. The signing of the protocol is pending. The suspension of the Autonomous Trade Measures will be lifted once the protocol on the adaptation of the SAA is provisionally applied. Shortcomings in the judiciary continued to be discussed in the Structured Dialogue on Justice."

For more information the full Report in available in the attachments.