SARAJEVO, June 18 (Xinhua) -- A total of 56.52 percent Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) citizens would vote for the country's accession to the European Union (EU), a survey revealed on Monday.
The survey was conducted by the Directorate for European Integration -- a permanent, independent and expert body of BiH Council of Ministers -- out of a sample of 1,200 adult citizens of BiH.
The survey reveals that 70.6 percent of people living in the Federation of BiH (FBiH), one of the country's entities, support EU membership, while the support in Republika Srpska, another entity of the country, is 30.3 percent, and in Brcko District 75.5 percent.
When it comes to reasons for their support, the majority of respondents stated improvement of infrastructure (34.8 percent), followed by the free movement of people, goods and capital, and compliance with laws and regulations.
But the survey also revealed that 66.5 percent of respondents fear that accession will lead to a rise in the cost of living. This was the most common reason for opposing EU entry.
On the question regarding the most important reforms that need to be taken, 74.4 percent of respondents answered "the reduction of tax burdens on labor and the removal of employment barriers, the fight against corruption, and public administration reform".
On Feb. 15, 2016, BiH formally submitted its application to join the EU, which was accepted on Sept. 20, 2016.
