Brussels, 26/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - Despite the economic crisis, 83% (a little under last year's 85%) of European citizens responding as part of a Eurobarometer survey continue to consider it important that the EU help people in developing countries, 69% consider helping those countries is also good for the EU, 61% believe European aid should increase (a stable figure), 66% are of the view that the fight against poverty in those countries should be among the European Union's priorities, but only 48% of European respondents consider it should be one of the major priorities of their own, domestic government. The special Eurobarometer survey entitled “EU Development Aid and the Millennium Development Goals” (MDG) published on Tuesday 26 November reveals these main trends and also shows that EU citizens do not have much of an idea of what these MDG are and what they must attain by 2015 - only 6% had even heard of them or know what they are about.
The findings of the survey commissioned by the Commission to test the pulse of European public opinion with regard to EU development aid were presented by Andris Piebalgs, Development Commissioner, during the eighth edition of the European Development Days (EDDs) in Brussels, dedicated to attaining the MDGs and to the future post-2015 global development framework (see EUROPE 10964).
“I am very encouraged to see that EU citizens support global solidarity and believe that together we can make a real difference in overcoming poverty. Big challenges lie ahead of us: ensuring that we achieve the Millennium Development Goals and make poverty a thing of the past. For the way forward, we all need to work together - the global community should agree on an ambitious joint agenda for the eradication of poverty and sustainable development”, the commissioner said, giving his assurance that Europeans will play their part. José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, spoke along the same lines. At the opening of the EDDs, he said that there was proof that development aid, if well managed by donors and recipients, can make a great contribution to human development. In order to reach the MDGs, pressure will, therefore, have to be kept up till the very last minute, he said, and, for after 2015, eradicating poverty remains a priority. He went on to say that poverty will be relegated to the annals of history, which is possible to do if there is the political will, globally, to do so. A set of targets are needed that can be applied to all countries taking the specific features of each into account, he said.
When asked what the future priorities of European development policy should be, the respondents mainly cite employment (44%), followed by health (33%), economic growth (31%) and education (30%).
Forty-eight percent of the respondents say they are willing to pay more for products that support the developing countries (i.e. 4% more than in 2012) with a strong progression in some countries severely affected by the crisis such as Ireland (47%, +12 percentage points), Latvia (27%, +8) and Spain (+7%). The young are the ones who feel the most concerned by development problems. Sixty-one percent of 15-24 year olds take the view that they have a contribution to make, an individual contribution, to the fight against poverty in the developing world (compared to only 45% of those aged 55 or more); 53% of 15-24 year olds are ready to pay more for products if this allows them to help developing countries (compared to 45% of respondents aged 55 and over).
The Eurobarometer survey was carried out by TNS Opinion & Social between 24 May and 9 June 2013 among 27,680 people aged 15 and over, who were questioned face to face in 28 member states. (AN/transl.jl)