Special Eurobarometer 476. Summary. EU citizens and development cooperation

Transcription

1 EU citizens and development cooperation Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors. Fieldwork June-July 2018 Publication Wave EB89.3 TNS opinion & social

2 EU citizens and development cooperation Survey conducted by TNS opinion & social at the request of the European Commission, Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development Survey co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM Media monitoring, media analysis and Eurobarometer Unit)

3 I. IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION 1 Perceived importance of development cooperation The proportion of respondents who think it is important to help people in developing countries has remained stable since 2015 (89%). More than four in ten (42%) say this is very important the same proportion as in 201. More than two thirds of respondents in each country think it is important to help people in developing countries, and in 14 countries at least nine in ten think this. However, the proportion of respondents in each country that think it is very important to help people in developing countries varies widely. 1

4 2 Tackling poverty in developing countries as one of the main priorities for the EU and national governments As was the case in the previous survey, respondents are more likely to think it is important to help people in developing countries, than to think tackling poverty in developing countries should be one of the main priorities of the EU or of their national government. 2

5 In 2 Member States, at least half of all respondents agree tackling poverty in developing countries should be one of the main priorities of the EU. As was the case in 2015 and in 201, respondents in each Member State are more likely to agree tackling poverty in developing countries should be one of the main priorities of the EU, than they are to agree it should be one of the main priorities of their national government. 3 The influence on EU citizens and EU s interest in tackling poverty in developing countries A large majority of respondents (74%) agree tackling poverty in developing countries has a positive influence on EU citizens as well. 3

6 Just over eight in ten respondents (81%) agree tackling poverty in developing countries is also in the EU s own interest, with 32% saying they totally agree. QC4.5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Tackling poverty in developing countries is also in the EU's own interest (e.g. by creating trade opportunities or better access to energy and raw materials) (% - EU) June-July 2018 Nov.-Dec. 201 Dec Sept TOTALLY AGREE TEND TO AGREE TEND TO DISAGREE TOTALLY DISAGREE DON'T KNOW Tackling poverty in developing countries as a moral obligation Just over three quarters of respondents (7%) agree tackling poverty in developing countries is a moral obligation for the EU: 31% totally agree and 45% tend to agree. Overall agreement has fallen slightly since 201 (-2 pp): the proportion who tend to agree has not changed, but the proportion who totally agree has declined by two points. 4

7 5 Development cooperation contribution to a more peaceful and equal world Almost three quarters of respondents (71%) agree aid for developing countries contributes to a more peaceful and fairer world, with more than one quarter totally agreeing (27%). QC4.7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Providing financial assistance to developing countries contributes to a more peaceful and fairer world (% - EU) June-July 2018 Nov.-Dec. 201 Dec Sept TOTALLY AGREE TEND TO AGREE TEND TO DISAGREE TOTALLY DISAGREE DON'T KNOW

8 Aid for developing countries as a way to tackle irregular migration The majority of respondents (9%) agree providing financial assistance to developing countries is an effective way to address irregular migration. QC4.8 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Providing financial assistance to developing countries is an effective way to address irregular migration (% - EU) June-July 2018 Nov.-Dec. 201 Dec TOTALLY AGREE TEND TO AGREE TEND TO DISAGREE TOTALLY DISAGREE DON'T KNOW 7

9 7 Financial assistance to developing countries as an effective way to tackle poverty A large majority of respondents (71%) agree providing financial assistance to developing countries is an effective way to tackle poverty in these countries. 7

10 II. ATTITUDES TOWARS EU AID Respondents were asked how they thought the amount spent on financial assistance to developing countries should evolve. Only a minority of respondents in each country think the EU and its Member States should spend more money in support of developing countries, although proportions range from 4% in Malta and 44% in Cyprus and Spain to 11% in Estonia, 12% in the Czech Republic and 14% in Lithuania. 8

11 The country trend analysis shows that in most countries respondents are now less likely to say aid should remain at current levels, and more likely to say it should be increased. 9

12 III. UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES FACING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Respondents were given a list of challenges and asked which they considered the most pressing for the future of developing countries. A cluster of challenges is mentioned by more than three in ten: peace and security (37%), education (35%), health (33%) and water and sanitation (32%). In 11 Member States peace and security is considered the most pressing for the future of developing countries, while in seven countries education is most mentioned. 10

13 IV. THE ROLE OF PRIVATE COMPANIES IN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION Respondents were asked their opinion about the role of private companies in the sustainable development of developing countries. The majority of respondents in each country think private companies should have an important role in the sustainable development of developing countries, although proportions vary widely from 94% in Portugal, 90% in Cyprus and 88% in Greece and Spain to 52% in Estonia and 4% in Latvia and Bulgaria. 11

14 V. GENDER EQUALITY AND EU DEVELOPMENT AID 1 Opinions about focus on gender equality in EU development aid More than eight in ten respondents (8%) think European Union development policy should also focus on equality between women and men, with the majority (5%) saying it definitely should. More than two thirds of respondents in each Member State think EU development policy should focus on gender equality. 12

15 2 Areas of priority in promoting gender equality in developing countries Respondents who think EU development policy should focus on gender equality were asked what areas should be prioritised to address gender equality in developing countries. Base: Respondents who say the EU development policy should also focus on equality between women and men (N=24,091) 13

16 VI. PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT 1 The role of individuals in tackling poverty Just over half of all respondents agree that, as individuals, they can play a role in tackling poverty in developing countries (53%) In 1 countries, at least half of all respondents agree that as individuals they can play a role in tackling poverty in developing countries. 14

17 2 Personal involvement in helping developing countries Across the EU, more than four in ten respondents (42%) are personally involved in helping developing countries. Just over one in five (22%) give money to an organisation such as an NGO or charity, while 21% make ethical choices when they shop for groceries, clothes and so on. 15

18 Although the proportion of respondents who are not involved in helping developing countries has increased since 201, it is still lower than it was in 2015 (-9 pp) or 2014 (-8 pp). QC5 Are you personally involved in helping developing countries in any of the following ways? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) (% - EU) June-July 2018 Nov.-Dec. 201 Dec Sept YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED YOU GIVE MONEY TO AN ORGANISATION (NGOS, CHARITIES, ETC.) YOU MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES WHEN YOU SHOP FOR GROCERIES, CLOTHING, ETC.** YOU DO VOLUNTARY WORK, INDIVIDUALLY OR FOR AN ORGANISATION (NGOS, CHARITIES, ETC.) YOU GIVE MONEY DIRECTLY TO PROJECTS ( CROWDFUNDING )* YOU ARE INVOLVED AS A MEMBER OF A POLITICAL PARTY OR AN NGO OR TAKING PART IN DEMONSTRATIONS OTHERS (SPONTANEOUS)** DON'T KNOW

19 VII. SOURCES OF INFORMATION REGARDING DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Respondents were asked about their sources for information related to development issues. Almost two thirds mention TV, and this is by far the most mentioned source. TV is the most mentioned source of information in each country, with proportions ranging from 79% in Denmark, 74% in Lithuania and 73% in Bulgaria, Germany, Portugal and Romania to 45% in Luxembourg and 57% in France and Slovakia. 17

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