Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have signed a sweeping new border crossings agreement, the most significant reorganization of their shared frontier in over a decade, designed to streamline the movement of people and goods while adapting to the realities of Croatia’s Schengen membership. The deal was sealed in Sarajevo on June 8 by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Bosnian Council of Ministers Chairwoman Borjana Krišto, and covers 58 crossings along the two countries’ lengthy border. The agreement arrives at a critical juncture, as the full implementation of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) since April 10 has introduced biometric checks that have slowed cross border traffic and frustrated travelers and haulers alike.
The centerpiece of the new accord is the expansion of highest category border crossings, those equipped with full inspection services for both passengers and freight, from just two to five, with a sixth operating during a transitional period. The newly elevated crossings include Nova Sela–Bijača, Kamensko–Kamensko, Ličko Petrovo Selo–Izačić, Svilaj–Donji Svilaj on the Pan-European Corridor Vc, and the recently opened Gornji Varoš–Gradiška crossing. Once construction of a new bridge at Gornji Varoš is completed, the older Stara Gradiška crossing will be downgraded. The total number of international road crossings for passenger and freight traffic rises from 14 to 17, supplemented by 20 passenger only crossings, 10 local border crossings, and five existing railway crossings. One confirmed upgrade is Zagrad–Pašin Potok, which will now handle international passenger traffic, easing pressure on busier checkpoints.
The agreement is explicitly tailored to Schengen requirements and prepares infrastructure for the EES, which digitally records biometric data, fingerprints and facial images, of non EU nationals entering the Schengen Area. Since Croatia joined Schengen in January 2023, its borders with Bosnia have become the EU’s external frontier, subject to stricter controls. The EES rollout has already caused significant delays at major crossings like Izačić, Velika Kladuša, and Gradiška, with reports of waits extending to several hours during peak periods. Plenković noted that the new deal complements Croatia’s updated Foreigners Act, which simplifies long term visa procedures for Bosnian citizens, and should help mitigate some of the EES related bottlenecks. Bilateral trade between the neighbors reached €4 billion in 2025, and around 650,000 Bosnian visitors traveled to Croatia that year, underscoring the economic imperative for smoother border management.
Beyond logistics, the agreement carries broader geopolitical weight. Plenković used the occasion to reiterate Croatia’s support for Bosnia’s EU path and to press for electoral reform ensuring equal representation for Croats, Bosnia’s smallest constituent people, in the country’s tripartite presidency. The signing also coincided with an EPP conference on EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, where Plenković expressed optimism that momentum on accession was finally returning. For Bosnia, the deal offers tangible benefits ahead of its October general elections, potentially reducing voter frustration over border delays while reinforcing economic ties. For Croatia, it represents a pragmatic effort to balance EU border security obligations with the need to maintain fluid relations with a key neighbor. As both countries prepare for another busy tourist season, the success of this agreement will be measured not in signatures but in minutes shaved off border queues.
