The enlargement process is a tool that we in Slovenia are very much aware of and appreciate, as we are a relatively new EU member state. For us, the enlargement process meant hope for a better future. That's why we believe that with today's decision we are also giving hope to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, just as we gave hope to the people of Ukraine and Moldova a few months ago.

The decision of the European Council is based on the initiative of the Slovenian Prime Minister presented at the leaders' meeting in June this year. In recent months, we have worked hard to reach the necessary consensus among the EU member states, which we have crowned with today's decision. It is a great Slovenian success.  At the same time, it is the success of the entire EU. Member States unanimously supported the granting of candidate status and unanimously confirmed the importance that the EU attaches to the future of the Western Balkans region.

With today's decision, we have shown that we understand the challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire Western Balkans. The granting of candidate status is a much needed signal to third countries, whose malign influence has increased over the years, that we will not allow their negative policies and narratives to prevail in the Western Balkans. We are once again establishing ourselves as a leading political actor in the region.

This is a message to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina that their future lies in our common European house. It gives us great satisfaction and pleasure that we will together build the future of the entire Europe.