In June this year, the Directorate for European Integration conducted a public opinion survey on support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union and on topics related to European integration that are of interest to citizens. The survey was conducted using the CATI method, on a sample of 1,200 respondents, which is representative of the entire country.
In the event of a referendum for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union, 69.9 percent of BiH citizens would vote, or seven out of 10 citizens. Entry into the European Union would be supported by 82.9 percent of respondents in the Federation of BiH, 46.1 percent in the Republika Srpska, and 71.3 percent in the Brčko District. Compared to last year, the percentage of respondents’ support is 1.3 percent lower.
The main reasons why citizens support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union are the freedom of movement of people, goods, and capital (31.4 percent), peace and political stability (29.1 percent), respect for the law (28.9 percent), and improvement of infrastructure (8.8 percent).
The most important reason among respondents who do not support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry into the European Union is higher living costs and taxes (36.6 percent), followed by loss of diversity (20.2 percent), population emigration (17 percent), excessive centralization (9.1 percent), and increased bureaucracy (8.4 percent).
According to citizens, the European Union is interested in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the greatest extent because of natural resources (38.1 percent), ensuring peace and stability (20.1 percent), and expanding the European market (19.8).
Every second respondent, or 43.4 percent, believes that the fight against corruption is the most important reform for improving everyday life, followed by reform of courts and prosecutors’ offices (18.4 percent), reducing tax burdens on labor and removing obstacles to employment (14.9 percent), and reform of the social system (14.2 percent).
Citizens, 30.9 percent, see the politicization of the integration process as the biggest obstacle to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration into the European Union, followed by unwillingness to change (25.6 percent), and objective obstacles (14.5 percent).
The largest number of respondents, 34 percent, believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina will join the European Union in a maximum of 10 years, and 51.5 percent of citizens believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path has no alternative.
A total of 42.4 percent of respondents believe that young people will benefit the most from BiH’s entry into the EU, while 18.9 percent believe that politicians will benefit, and 10.4 percent of those surveyed believe that students will benefit the most.
The majority of citizens (58.4 percent) recognized the European Union as the largest donor of funds to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The largest percentage of respondents (45.5 percent) believe that the EU will strengthen internal relations and continue with enlargement, the Directorate for European Integration announced.
