Majority of Latvian Citizens are Positive about the EU Funds Acquisition in Latvia
63.6% of surveyed Latvian citizens express a positive opinion and assessment of European Union (EU) funds acquisition in Latvia, show results of the latest public opinion poll on the awareness of Latvian citizens about EU matters. Since 2010, a growing number of surveyed citizens express positive attitude, however the number of citizens who are negative about the EU funds acquisition in Latvia has decreased.
“The public opinion poll carried out by Latvijas Fakti shows a positive trend in the overall attitude of Latvian citizens towards the EU funds acquisition. If in 2010 only 36.7% of citizens assessed the EU funds acquisition in Latvia as very or rather positive, this year the number of those respondents has increased by almost two thirds or up to 63.6% of all surveyed citizens. Since the assessment given by citizens improves each year, it can be concluded that the institutions involved in the EU funds management have done a successful work in programming period 2007-2013 and while preparing for the new programming period 2014-2020,” emphasises Director of the market and social research agency “Latvijas Fakti” Aigars Freimanis.
Similarly to 2012-2013, this year more than tree fourth (79.6%) of surveyed Latvian citizens expressed an opinion that the funds allocated by the EU cause a positive impact on the development of Latvia’s economy and society. While the critical opinion about the EU funds acquisition was represented by only 6% of survey’s participants.
“Such an assessment by citizens proves that the investment of EU funds plays an important role in the promotion of Latvia’s growth and the level of welfare of citizens. In EU funds programming period 2007-2013 within the framework of the cohesion policy we had 4.53 billion euro available, which were invested in the fields which brought the most return to our country and the most important – significant contribution to the growth of gross domestic product and promotion of employment. It is obvious that citizens have noticed it, therefore we hope to maintain such a successful trend also in the beginning and results of the new programming period 2014-2020,” notes Finance Minister Janis Reirs.
According to the results of the latest public opinion poll, convincing majority or 90% of Latvian citizens have heard about the fact that Latvia has EU funds available. Similarly to other years, among the most often recognized EU funds are European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), managed by the Agriculture Ministry, and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which almost half of Latvian citizens have heard about – respectively 46.6% and 44.8%.
In view of Latvian citizens, in the fields supported by EU funds the biggest return is from the arrangement of roads and transport system, mentioned by 46.9%, agriculture (36.7%), environment arrangements (28.7%), promotion of energy-efficiency (28.6%) and restoration of culture heritage objects (23.1%). Results were similar also in previous surveys.
The hierarchy of fields, which should be supported, has remained unchanged. Most often as the fields where in the future more European Union funds should be invested were named – health and social care (60.8%), promotion of employment (50.3%), arrangement of road and transport system (33.4%), support to farmers (29.7%) and development of education (24.5%).
The public opinion poll on the awareness of citizens about EU funds matters is ordered by the Finance Ministry and carried out by the market and social research agency “Latvijas Fakti” using the direct interview method at the place of residence of respondents. In compliance with the stratified random sampling principle, 1000 permanent Latvian residents (18-74 years) were included in the research. Results of the survey are available here.
Information prepared by:
Zaiga Puškina
Senior Expert of Communication Department
Phone: 67095656
zaiga.puskina@fm.gov.lv
