Divided Bosnia expects EU to accept its application bid next week

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia expects the European Union's foreign ministers to accept its membership application next week, the start of a long path towards joining that could yet be overshadowed by a Bosnian Serb referendum that threatens to expose deep ethnic divides.

The country, beset by economic woes, had an earlier attempt at gaining EU approval scuppered by arguments between its autonomous governments, set up 20 years ago to preserve the country's unity at the end of an ethnic war.