# Bosnia-Herzegovina shaped by war, separatism, EU ambitions

> Bosnia's ethnic divisions and EU hopes clash as separatist ambitions resurface.
- Title: Bosnia-Herzegovina shaped by war, separatism, EU ambitions
- Summary: Bosnia's ethnic divisions and EU hopes clash as separatist ambitions resurface. Bosnia-Herzegovina's complex ethnic structure and EU integration efforts face…
- Keywords: bosnia and herzegovina, republika srpska, milorad dodik, dayton peace accords, eu integration, ethnic nationalism, separatism, bosnian serbs, bosnian croats, bosniaks, united nations, high representative
- Source: Dw — https://dw.com/en/bosnia-and-herzegovina-is-still-shaped-by-war-separatism-eu-ambitions/a-79523557?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bosnia and herzegovina, republika srpska, milorad dodik, dayton peace accords, eu integration, ethnic nationalism, separatism, bosnian serbs, bosnian croats, bosniaks, united nations, high representative
## Bosnia's ethnic divisions
Bosnia and Herzegovina divides its economic, administrative and political responsibilities between a multiethnic central government, the self-governing neutral Brcko district and two semi-autonomous entities.
## Ethnic composition
The country has a population of around 3.1 million people, with 50% Bosniaks, 31% Serbs and 15% Croats.
## Dayton Peace Accords
The 1995 Dayton Peace Accords ended the Bosnian war and legally secured the balance of power between Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats.
## War consequences
The war killed 100,000 people and displaced 2.2 million through ethnic cleansing.
## High representative role
The Office of the High Representative, an international institution overseeing the Dayton agreement, has been in place since 1995.
## Separatist ambitions
Milorad Dodik, prime minister and president of Republika Srpska until 2025, views the high representative as an obstacle to his separatist goals.
## EU integration efforts
Bosnia-Herzegovina submitted EU membership applications in 2016, with negotiations starting in early 2024.
## EU support and challenges
The EU has financially supported Bosnia since 2007, but infrastructure funding for Republika Srpska has been suspended due to separatist rhetoric.
## What happens next
Bosnia's EU integration efforts face pressure from Republika Srpska's separatist ambitions and the need for political reforms.
## Key takeaway

Bosnia-Herzegovina's complex ethnic structure and EU integration efforts face challenges from Republika Srpska's separatist push.