European citizens continue to show support to aid provided to developing countries

According to a special barometer report, two in three Europeans believe that the EU should honor, or even improve, on its promises to increase development aid to 0.7% of GNI by 2015.

Despite the economic and financial crisis, EU citizens are strongly in favour of EU’s aids toward developing countries.  Still according to this report, 76% of them do think that the European’s aid system  should be harmonized through a high co-ordination between member states to avoid useless fragmentation and ensure aid effectiveness.

Following these results, European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs highlighted that “EU's solidarity and responsibility towards those in need must be pursued”.

Survey also shows that:

42% of respondents see poverty as the biggest challenge for developing countries, followed by the economic crisis (36%), food (20%) and health issues (19%).

43% believe that EU trade and finance policies have a positive impact on partner countries. Peace building policies also reach 42%, followed by agriculture (33%) and migration (22%).

42% are in favor of helping developing countries as a volunteer or with money. 30% either give money or work as a volunteer.

63% see international organizations as best placed to help developing countries. Here, the EU comes third (17%), behind the UN (27%) and the World Bank (19%).

For the Eurobarometer report, click here.

To read the press release, click here.