Bosnia and Herzegovina is a European country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( [ ˈbɒzniə_ənd_ˌhɛərtsəɡoʊˈviːnə , _ - ˌhɜːrt - , _ - ɡə - ] or [ ˌhɜːrtsəˈɡɒvᵻnə ] B&H ; Bosnian , Croatian , Serbian : Bosna i Hercegovina / Боснa и Херцеговина [ bôsna i xěrt͡seɡoʋina ] ) , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina ( BiH ) , and , in short , often known informally as Bosnia , is a country in Southeastern Europe located on the Balkan Peninsula . Bosnia and Herzegovina is regionally and internationally renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage inherited from six historical civilizations , its cuisine , winter sports , its eclectic and unique music , architecture and its festivals , some of which are the largest and most prominent of their kind in Southeastern Europe . The country is a potential candidate for membership to the European Union and has been a candidate for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership since April 2010 , when it received a Membership Action Plan at a summit in Tallinn . Additionally , the country has been a member of the Council of Europe since April 2002 and a founding member of the Mediterranean Union upon its establishment in July 2008 .