Dutch representative to the EU, Ambassador, Pieter de Gooijer, has recently sent a letter to Sarajevo, informing the Bosnian authorities that on behalf of the current EU Council presidency, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders would gladly receive Bosnia's membership request at a formal ceremony set for Monday, 15 February in Brussels, according to local media's reports on Saturday.
The relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU bloc are being currently regulated by a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), and in order to submit the above-mentioned request, it is necessary to have agreement about a Coordination Mechanism and to adjust the SAA segments regulating the traditional regime of trade, primarily with Croatia.
Covic was quoted by the media as saying the 15 February would be a historic date.
He also expects the conferring of a candidate status to Bosnia next year.