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LONDON, UK - FEBRUARY 20: Bosnia and Herzegovina gained European Union candidacy status last December, nearly two decades after the country stated its desire to join the bloc, but the question of eventual EU membership remains. Candidate status means the country joined other countries that are also candidates – Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova, Ukraine and Türkiye. Stjepan Mesic, a former president of Croatia and the last serving president of Yugoslavia, told Anadolu that Bosnia and Herzegovina must join the EU, as this would ensure that there will no longer be “a motive for war.” Allowing all the countries of the former Yugoslavia to join the EU would enable the union to develop further, which in turn would “enrich Europe,” said Mesic. Despite promises of enlargement to the Western Balkans bloc, the EU’s expansion was halted, with Croatia being the only country to join the union in 2013. In Mesic's opinion, Europe lacks leadership, as “real leaders” would insist on quick inclusion and help those countries with less potential. He argued that further EU expansion is crucial to maintaining peace across the globe. (Footage by Ahmet Gurhan Kartal/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)