Almost three-quarters of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina would support the country’s entry into the European Union if a referendum were held today, according to the latest public opinion survey conducted by the Directorate for European Integration (DEI).
The research was conducted from April 23 to May 13, 2026 on a sample of 1,200 respondents from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the results, 74.4 percent of citizens would vote for BiH’s membership in the European Union, which represents an increase in support compared to the previous year.
The greatest support for the European path was recorded in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where membership is supported by 86.1 percent of respondents. In the Republika Srpska, support is 54.1 percent, while in Brčko District, 74.7 percent of citizens are in favor of joining the EU. Compared to last year, the number of citizens who support membership increased by 4.5 percent.
As the main reason for supporting BiH’s entry into the European Union, respondents cited the guarantee of permanent peace and political stability, which is considered by 38.4 percent of citizens. This is followed by greater freedom of movement of people, goods and capital, compliance with laws and regulations, and improvement of infrastructure.
On the other hand, the largest number of opponents of membership fear the increase in the cost of living and taxes. Citizens who are against joining the EU also cite possible emigration of the population, loss of cultural diversity, greater centralization and increased bureaucracy as reasons.
The fight against corruption is still, according to citizens, the most important reform that BiH must implement. As many as 44.8 percent of respondents believe that a more decisive fight against corruption would improve the daily life of citizens the most.
The survey also showed that 51.2 percent of citizens believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path has no alternative, while 33.9 percent of them believe that BiH could become a member of the European Union in the next ten years. The majority of respondents recognize the European Union as the largest donor of funds to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and almost half believe that young people would benefit the most from membership, writes NOISE.
