European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to make Bosnia and Herzegovina a formal candidate to join the bloc of 27 nations.

• The EU leaders approved the decision at a summit in Brussels following a recommendation by the European Commission in October and voting in the EU Council and General Affairs Council this week.
• The bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed the decision. "This is a decision for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Political leaders can now turn this ambition into reality through decisive reforms," he said.
• The Slovenian Foreign Ministry congratulated Bosnia-Herzegovina on its gaining EU candidate status.