The EU's executive arm will on Tuesday recommend that member states open formal membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced.

Von der Leyen told the European Parliament that the country "is showing that it can deliver on the membership criteria, and on its citizens' aspiration to be part of our family.  

"This is the reason that we will decide to recommend to the Council to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina."