Nearly 70% of BiH citizens for EU membership, 6% drop compared to 2021

According to the survey published on the DEI's website on Friday, 69.9% of citizens would support Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU membership in a referendum, a decrease of 1.3% compared to the previous year, when support stood at 71.2%. Compared to 2021, when 75.6% of citizens were in favour, the drop amounts to nearly six percentage points.

Support for EU membership is significantly higher in the Federation of BiH (82.9%), followed by the Brcko District (71.3%), while in the Republika Srpska (RS), 46.1% of respondents support joining the Union.

Citizens who back Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the EU cite as the main reasons freedom of movement for people, goods, and capital (31.4%), peace and political stability (29.1%), respect for the rule of law (28.9%), and infrastructure improvements (8.8%).

On the other hand, opponents of EU membership cite rising living costs and taxes (36.6%), loss of diversity (20.2%), population emigration (17%), excessive centralisation (9.1%), and increased bureaucracy (8.4%) as key reasons for their stance.

More than half of the respondents believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina's path towards the EU has no alternative, while 34% believe the country will become an EU member within the next ten years.

The European Council has approved the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but for the formal start of the process, the country must adopt two laws related to judicial reform and appoint a chief negotiator.

Due to disputes within the ruling coalition at the state level and a crisis that escalated this year following the sentencing of RS leader Milorad Dodik, the country's European path has been completely stalled.