UG “Zašto ne” calls for stronger domestic and EU engagement on election integrity

As the official campaign for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2026 General Elections begins, UG “Zašto ne” is addressing key domestic and EU stakeholders to draw attention to risks to election integrity linked to misleading and manipulative narratives in the online information environment, particularly those concerning the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process.

Ahead of the election campaign, UG “Zašto ne” reviewed recurring EU-related narratives documented through Istinomjer and Raskrinkavanje over the past four years. The previous monitoring experience shows that such narratives are already well established across political discourse, media and social media and can provide a basis for further manipulation during the election period. Throughout the campaign, both platforms will therefore closely follow how EU-related issues and narratives are used and whether previously identified patterns reappear or intensify.

This monitoring also provides context for a broader discussion about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s preparedness to respond to election-related risks in the online information environment, including the need for stronger domestic capacities, as well as closer engagement with European mechanisms and initiatives for protecting election integrity.

For domestic stakeholders, the focus is on proactive engagement with the European Democracy Shield initiative and related European mechanisms and networks. This includes strengthening cooperation among institutions, civil society, fact-checkers and media, building links with relevant EU institutions and European counterparts, and making greater use of opportunities for capacity building, information exchange and election preparedness.

For relevant EU institutions, the statement calls for stronger support and engagement with stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina in developing the capacities and mechanisms needed to respond to election-related risks. A particular priority is establishing effective communication and escalation channels with large online platforms during election periods.

Read the full statement here.