Shared priorities and persistent barriers: UN roundtable examines pathways to lasting peace in Bosnia

Peace, equal rights, an independent judiciary, and accountable public institutions represent the shared priorities of citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, even as significant divisions persist over the state's constitutional structure. Research presented at the United Nations Headquarters in New York demonstrates that cross-community cooperation thrives across various practical sectors, yet frequently encounters insurmountable obstacles whenever sustained progress hinges on high-level political consensus. The findings were featured during a roundtable discussion examining citizen involvement in peacebuilding and political progress, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Luxembourg alongside the EU Delegation to the UN and the US-BiH Exchange Council. Presenting results from the CONSENT BiH project, which surveyed 2,009 citizens alongside extensive focus groups, Josip Glaurdic from the University of Luxembourg explained that citizens view constitutional matters through practical outcomes rather than abstract principles.