The latest Eurobarometer survey on citizens’ awareness and perception of EU regional policy has been published by the European Commission, and includes findings on the European Social Fund.
Awareness of EU support for European regions remains stable: 39% of EU citizens are aware of this support, compared to 40% and 41% in the last two surveys in 2021 and 2019.
When EU support is visible, citizens consider this a positive: 79% say EU support has a positive impact on their region. More and more people (32%) share the view that they personally benefit from EU investments in their daily lives, compared to 30% in 2021 and 28% in 2019.
EU-funded cohesion policy projects help citizens feel part of the EU: 57% of respondents confirmed that EU projects in their area gave them a greater sense of belonging to the EU as a citizen. This feeling is stronger among young people, students in general, and inhabitants of large towns and cities.
Awareness of EU funds
70% of Europeans are aware of EU cohesion policy funds and 66% are aware of the support that these funds gave to Member States, both in the emergency response to Covid and in the post-pandemic economic recovery.
The European Social Fund is known to 45% of Europeans, while the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund are both known to 46%. There is higher awareness only of Erasmus+, which ranks first with 58%.
At the EU level, national TV is still the most quoted media channel as a source of information about EU-funded projects, together with the internet.
A social approach to investment remains a priority
The EU should invest in all regions: this is confirmed by 63% of the respondents, an outcome which is in line with the opinions in the previous poll in 2021. Most citizens believe priority should be given to regions with high unemployment rates, together with deprived urban areas and remote rural or mountain areas.
Education, health or social infrastructure are unanimously considered the most important areas for EU investment, topping the list for 93% of Europeans, followed by investment in the environment (89%) and in renewable, clean energy and energy networks (85%).
