79% of Latvia’s Population Positively Evaluate the Effect of EU Funds on the National Economy of Latvia
79,4% of respondents positively evaluate the effect of the European Union (EU) funds on the national economy of Latvia according to the latest results of opinion survey on the public awareness concerning the EU funds issues. In this year a positive evaluation in this matter is expressed more often than in previous years.
“If two thirds of the population express the same opinion, then it is the dominating one in a society. A negative opinion in this matter is not competitive as a positive evaluation of the presence of EU funds is expressed by more than three fourths of Latvia’s population,” points out Aigars Freimanis, director of market and social research agency Latvijas Fakti.
“Such evaluation from people reflects the importance of the investments of EU funds in Latvia. Financing of Cohesion policy or EU funds in the amount of 3,2 billion lats in 2007–2013 is the biggest public investment for Latvia’s growth and it has significantly contributed to the growth of gross domestic product and the facilitation of employment,” emphasizes Minister of Finance Andris Vilks.
According to the latest results of opinion survey, almost all (95,4%) inhabitants of Latvia have heard that the resources of EU funds are available to Latvia and it is more than during all previous opinion surveys.
Similar to the evaluations of public opinion carried out in previous years, also in this year television is the most significant source of information on the use of EU funds in Latvia. 81,5% of Latvia’s population acquire information by means of television. The next significant sources of information are radio, internet, national and regional press, with the help of which, information on EU funds and their supported projects is acquired by 25% – 35% of Latvia’s inhabitants. In this year more often than in 2011 the respondents have acquired information on EU funds from the informative stands and sheets of the projects (13,8%).
A positive tendency characteristic to the previous years is continuing – the number of respondents who are satisfied with the amount of information available on EU funds (70,7%) increases or even exceeds necessary demand (4,3%). Like in 2011 also in this year more than three fourths (76,2%) of Latvia’s population have heard about a specific project, which was implemented by the attraction of the financing of EU fund.
In the view of Latvia’s inhabitants, the biggest return in the fields supported by EU funds should be attributed to the arrangement of a transport system (mentioned by 45,7% of the respondents), agriculture (30,5%), arrangement of environment (water and waste management) (22,6%) as well as the facilitation of employment (20%).
The majority of Latvia’s population regard the facilitation of employment (mentioned by 54,7% of the respondents), health and social care (52,7%) as priority areas, in which more resources of EU funds should be invested. Further areas of the priority list are support to farmers (mentioned by 34% of the respondents), arrangement of road and transport system (33,7%) and the development of education (26,2%).
Opinion survey on the public awareness concerning the EU funds issues, ordered by the Ministry of Finance, was carried out by the social research agency Latvijas Fakti using the method of a direct interview at respondents' place of residence. According to the principle of a stratified random choice, 1000 of Latvia’s permanent residents aged 18 - 74 have participated in the survey. The results of the survey are available here.
Information prepared by:
Sanda Rieksta
Senior Expert of Communication Division
tel. 67095656 sanda.rieksta@fm.gov.lv
