14 August, 1995
Dear Mr. Dupuis,
I refer to your letter of 2 June concerning the question of an application from Bosnia for membership of the European Union.
Article 0 of the Treaty on European Union provides that any European State may apply to become a member of the European Union. The question of being invited to submit an application for membership does not arise.
The European Council meeting in Copenhagen in June 1993 set out the economic and political requirements of membership of the Union. These are that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. Membership presupposes the candidate's ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.
Some of the former republics of Yugoslavia have commenced a process of deepening their relations with the European Union. The Union is close to concluding a Europe Association Agreement with Slovenia, an agreement which acknowledges that its ultimate objective is to accede to the European Union. A Trade and Cooperation Agreement is being negotiated with Croatia. In the case of both of these draft agreements, provision for aid and cooperation are included.
When developments in the future permit a stabilisation in the situation in Bosnia and the restoration of peace there, the European Union will doubtless continue to contribute in a major way to supporting the peace process.
The means and the will to support regeneration in Bosnia are not in doubt. What is necessary, however, is the need to reestablish peace there; a peace which will permit the Bosnian Government to look at all the options for the development of its relations with the European Union and to select a framework which is best suited to its needs and aspirations at that time.
Yours sincerely,
John Bruton