Nicosia: Cypriot citizens’ perception of the impact of EU regional policy remains largely positive, the latest Eurobarometer survey published on Friday reveals.
According to Cyprus News Agency, 88% of respondents in Cyprus believe EU-funded initiatives make a positive contribution to living conditions in their respective countries or regions, while 35% among them are aware of such initiatives altogether. The respective EU averages correspond to 40% of respondents being aware of EU-funded initiatives, with nearly four fifths (79%) of those respondents believing they make a positive contribution to living conditions in their respective countries or regions. Additionally, 57% of those surveyed consider that EU-supported projects in their area have contributed to their sense of being EU citizens.
It is added that two-thirds of the surveyed individuals are aware of at least one cohesion policy fund, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Cohesion Fund, European Social Fund, Interreg, or the Just Transition Fund. Awareness is highest in Poland (92%) and Slovakia (91%).
On average, 17% of participants note that they have personally benefitted from a project supported by the ERDF or Cohesion Fund, with this percentage rising to 50% in certain countries.
It is further noted that in terms of future EU investments, respondents prioritize the improvement of healthcare and education infrastructures (49%), environmental protection, water resources and climate action (38%), job creation and access to the labour market (31%), and housing and energy efficiency enhancements (27%).
A significant majority (64%) of those surveyed believe cohesion policy should support all EU regions, with a particular emphasis on areas experiencing high unemployment (63%), deprived urban areas (51%), and remote rural or mountainous regions (50%), the survey noted.