The EC recommendation is a recognition of Bosnia's progress in the implementation of reforms from a feasibility study, the statement said.
The feasibility study, published in November 2003, said that Bosnia must make progress in 16 sectors so as to prepare itself for negotiations on the SAA.
The Commission said in a statement that Bosnia primarily must continue improving cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, adopt a law on a public radio and television network which has not yet been adopted in the Bosnian Parliament's House of Peoples, and ensure the implementation of police reform and a public information act.
Lack of progress in these sectors could postpone the opening of negotiations or lead to the suspension of negotiations, the statement said.
The negotiations are aimed at signing the first agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and the proposed negotiating directive is still to be approved by the Council of the EU.
Spokesman for the European Commission, Krisztina Nagy said the Commission hoped that the 25 EU member states would voice their opinion about the recommendation by the year's end.