Brussels, 01/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Public support is growing for the European Union's humanitarian aid and awareness of EU activities in this area is rising, reveals the latest Eurobarometer survey on humanitarian aid, the findings of which were published by the Commission on Friday 29 May.
This special Eurobarometer survey (434), carried out in the 28 EU member states between 21 and 30 March 2015, reveals that 90% of citizens believe it is “very important” or “fairly important” for the EU to continue funding humanitarian aid, a rise of two percentage points since the previous survey in 2012. Only 6% believe it is “not very important” or “not at all important”.
Some 85% support humanitarian aid funding in spite of the economic crisis in Europe.
Christos Stylianides, EU commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, said: “I am proud of the strong support of our citizens for Europe's humanitarian work. The solidarity of Europeans gives hope to hundreds of millions of people around the world who need aid for their very survival amidst conflicts, displacement or natural disasters”.
According to the survey, 76% of respondents say they are aware of the EU's humanitarian activities and funding (compared to 68% in 2012). The level of awareness is highest in Luxembourg and the Netherlands (92% and 90% respectively) and lowest in Italy (58%). Only in Cyprus (-5%) and Latvia (-2%) was the level of awareness on the wane.
Awareness of specific EU activity is also high: 83% were able to cite at least one intervention, with the Ebola crisis in West Africa the most often mentioned (43% of respondents).
The internet, followed by TV and the press, were the main sources of information, with younger respondents much more likely to mention the internet and social networks.
Humanitarian aid is felt by 73% of citizens to be more efficient if provided by the EU as a whole and coordinated by the European Commission, rather than being provided by each member state individually.
There is support from 84% of citizens for the EU initiative that has been going for over a year of sending volunteers to carry out humanitarian aid in a series of pilot projects in other parts of the world.
The European Commission (though ECHO, its humanitarian aid and civil protection department) provides vital assistance to vulnerable people through intervention carried out in partnership with United Nations agencies, NGOs and international organisation such as the Red Cross. The Eurobarometer survey was carried out by TNS Opinion & Social for the European Commission (coordinated by DG Communication). Some 28,082 respondents were interviewed face-to-face in their mother language. (Aminata Niang)