71.2% of Bosnians would support the country’s entry to the European Union if a referendum was held now, a poll carried out by the Directorate for European Integration (DEI) showed on August 21.

Bosnia & Herzegovina has been granted EU candidate status but is yet to complete a set of reforms needed to start membership talks.

The poll showed that the support for EU membership is higher in the Muslim-Croat Federation – 83.8% – and significantly lower in the pro-Russian Republika Srpska at just 48.3%. In the autonomous Brcko district 75.1% of people are in favour of EU membership.

Support for EU membership fell by 2% in both the Federation and Republika Srpska compared to last year, while in Brcko district it increased by 3.6%, DEI noted.

Bosnia comprises two autonomous entities – the Federation and Republika Srpska, as well as the Brcko district. While the Federation is strongly oriented to the West, Republika Srpska looks towards Russia and Serbia as its preferred allies.

As Bosnia was granted EU candidate status, 39.6% of respondents expect the country to join the bloc within ten years. By contrast, 24.4% believe the country will never join the EU.

The three most important reasons for Bosnians to want to join the EU are the free movement of people, capitals and goods, the guarantee for peace and political stability and the rule of law.

On the opposite side, people fear of higher inflation, and migration.