(MENAFN) Because of Europe’s perception of the Western Balkan country, Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot join the European Union anytime in the near future, as said by Admir Lisica, a political researcher on the region.

“I honestly believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina will not become a member of the European Union for a long time, and one of the reasons is the current European perception of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Lisica, a researcher of international policy and diaspora communities, updated Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.

“I think (the country’s candidacy) is positive, but I’m not euphoric because Bosnia and Herzegovina will not become a member in the near future unless certain EU members make a serious turn in their policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he continued.

When the European Council last Thursday decided Bosnia-Herzegovina candidate status for EU membership, Lisica announced that Bosnia and Herzegovina's top main concern should really be to become a member of the NATO military union.

“Joining NATO would instill some kind of security for citizens, but also for foreign investors. Although we see from the example of Montenegro that even NATO membership does not guarantee complete political and security stability,” he added.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to joining NATO and the European Union, which are the main aspirations of the majority of the population in the country. This is positive news, but we must not be euphoric. There is a long way to joining the European Union.”

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