Sarajevo – ESI contributes to University of Sarajevo summer school on EU accession negotiations

Adnan contributed to the summer school in Sarajevo. Photo: Lejla Hasanovic

Adnan Ćerimagić, ESI’s senior analyst, participated online in the Summer School “Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU Accession Negotiations”, organised by the Faculty of Law of the University of Sarajevo on 24 July 2026. The four-day programme brought together students, academics, public officials, and experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the country’s diaspora to explore the legal, institutional, and practical dimensions of the country's path towards European Union membership.

The summer school combined lectures, practical workshops, and simulations of EU accession negotiations, giving students the opportunity to examine how the accession process functions in practice. A central element of the programme was a final negotiation simulation on migration, asylum, and border management, allowing participants to apply legal and policy knowledge in a realistic negotiating environment.

Drawing on ESI’s research on EU enlargement and the Western Balkans, Adnan discussed the opportunities and challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path. He highlighted the importance of a credible, merit-based accession process that rewards reforms and strengthens institutions, while encouraging students to think critically about the political and legal dimensions of EU accession negotiations.

The programme also featured experts from the University of Sarajevo, the Directorate for European Integration, the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office of the High Representative, and members of the Bosnian diaspora working on European affairs. The summer school was organised with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

ESI continues to engage with students and young professionals across the Western Balkans, supporting informed debate on EU enlargement, democratic reforms, and the rule of law.

• ESI proposal: “Preventing violence – transform Kosovo dialogue”
• ESI background: “Scoreboard - The true state of accession - What the Commission assessments reveal”
• ESI proposal: “End the turtle race How the EU can address the crisis of the accession process”
• ESI proposal: “Offer the four freedoms to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova For a merit-based EU accession process with a credible goal”
• ESI proposal: “47 again? Russia out, Kosovo in Support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe”
• ESI proposal: “Abandon clichés about Bosnia: Push EU-related reforms instead of arbitrary conditions”
• ESI proposal: “No partition: Why Kosovo and Serbia must not discuss territory”
• ESI report: “Anti-Corruption Report for the West Balkans: Measure corruption in order to fight it”