Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy : summary.
Date: 2024-02-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, EU Member State, EU financing, EU regional policy, European Regional Development Fund, citizen-authority relations, cross-border cooperation, investment project, public awareness campaign, regional finances, report

Flash Eurobarometer 531 

Citizens'  awareness  and  perception 
of EU regional policy 

Summary 

Fieldwork: 
June 2023 
Publication: 
October 2023 

Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban 
Policy and coordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication 

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The 
interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors. 

Flash Eurobarometer 531 – Ipsos European Public Affairs 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 

Summary 

Citizens' awareness and perception of 
EU regional policy 

June 2023 

Survey conducted by Ipsos European Public Affairs at the request of the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy 

Survey coordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication  
(DG COMM “Media Monitoring and Eurobarometer” Unit) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Project title 

Linguistic version 
Catalogue number 
ISBN 

© European Union, 2023 

Flash Eurobarometer 531 Citizens' awareness and perception of 
EU regional policy – June 2023 
Summary 
EN 
KN-05-23-362-EN-N 
978-92-68-07835-8 
doi:10.2776/884433 

https://europa.eu/eurobarometer 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 497 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Table of contents 

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Section 1. EU co-financed projects that improve local areas ....................................................................................... 2 

Section 2. Awareness of EU Cohesion Policy .......................................................................................................................... 4 

Section 3. Perceived benefits of EU regional policy ........................................................................................................... 6 

Section 4. Priority regions for EU regional policy ................................................................................................................. 7 

Section 5. Important areas for EU regional policy investment .................................................................................... 8 

Section 6. Cross-border cooperation ........................................................................................................................................ 10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Introduction 

EU  Cohesion  Policy  aims  to  enhance  economic,  social  and  territorial  cohesion  among  EU 
Member States by correcting imbalances among countries and regions within the European Union (EU). 
EU Cohesion Policy is one of the most impactful areas of EU activity, accounting for around a third of 
its budget or €392 billion in the 2021-2027 programme period.  Priorities of the  EU  Cohesion  Policy 
2021-2027 correspond to the broader strategic agenda for the EU 2019-2024 - the five objectives of 
regional policy should ensure the building of a smarter, greener, more connected and more social Europe 
that is closer to its citizens.  

On  behalf  of  the  European  Commission,  Directorate-General  for  Urban  and  Regional  Policy,  Ipsos 
European Public Affairs interviewed a representative sample of citizens, aged 15 and over, in each of 
the  27  Member  States  of  the  EU.  Between  22  July  and  8  August  2021,  25  718  interviews  were 
conducted over the telephone (landline and mobile phones). This report covers the following topics:  

  Citizens’  awareness  of  and  opinion  on  EU  regional  policy  support,  including  the  recovery 
programme  in  the  context  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  as  well  as  information  on  the  sources  of 
information from which respondents found out about the support 

  Priorities  for  EU  regional  policy  from  the  citizen  perspective:  which  geographical  regions  and 
areas  of  investment  the  EU  should  target  and  who  should  take  decisions  about  regional 
investments 

  Public awareness of cross-border cooperation, including four EU macro-regional strategies in the 

Baltic Sea, along the Danube, the Adriatic and Ionian Sea regions, and the Alpine region. 

Survey data presented in this report are weighted to known population proportions. The EU27 averages 
are weighted according to the size of the 15+ population of each EU Member State. Percentages may 
not add up to 100%, as they are rounded to the nearest percent. Due to rounding, it may happen that the 
percentages  for  separate  response  options  shown  in  the  charts  do  not  exactly  add  up  to  the  totals 
mentioned in the text. Response percentages exceed 100% if the question allowed respondents to select 
multiple  responses.  In  this  report,  countries  are  referred  to  by  their  official  abbreviation.  The 
abbreviations used in this report correspond to:  

BE 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

EL 

  Belgium 
  Bulgaria 
  Czechia 
  Denmark 
  Germany 
Estonia 

Ireland 
  Greece 
  Spain 

FR 

HR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

France 
  Croatia 
Italy 

  Rep. of Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

  Hungary 
  Malta 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

  Netherlands 
  Austria 
Poland 

Portugal 
  Romania 
  Slovenia 
  Slovakia 
Finland 
  Sweden 

ES 
* Cyprus as a whole is one of the 27 EU Member States. However, the ‘acquis communautaire’ has been suspended 
in the part of the country not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, interviews 
are only carried out in the part of the country controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. 

MT 

SE 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Section 1. EU co-financed projects that improve local areas 

About four in ten (39%) respondents say they have heard about EU co-financed projects to 
improve  the  area  where  they  live.  When  this  question  was  asked  in  2021,  a  similar  figure  was 
observed (41%). There is a large variation across the EU Member States in the proportion of 
respondents  who  report  having  heard  about  EU  co-financed  projects  to  improve  the  area 
where they live, ranging from 15% in Denmark to 80% in Poland.  

Compared to 2021 (Flash Eurobarometer 497), awareness of EU co-financed projects to improve the 
regions  and  cities  where  respondents  live  has  significantly  decreased  in  Hungary  (55%,  -8  pp), 
Bulgaria (29%, -7 pp), Finland (29%, -7 pp), Latvia (62%, -5 pp) and Germany (16%, -4 pp). 

Q1A 

Europe  provides  financial  support  to  regions  and  cities.  Have  you  heard  about  any  EU  co-
financed projects to improve the area where you live? (% by country) 

Yes

1

1

19

26

1

27

1

29

2

33

2

34

3

2

35

38

1

40

3

40

3

42

0

46

2

51

No

3

55

Don't know

1

59

2

59

1

62

6

59

1

68

0

70

1

1

2

2

70

71

72

75

1

76

3

79

1

84

2

84

80

73

72

70

65

64

62

60

60

58

55

54

47

42

39

39

37

35

31

29

29

29

25

23

23

18

16

15

PL

SK

HR

CZ

LT

SI

LV

EE

EL

MT

HU

IT

RO

PT EU27 ES

LU

CY

FR

IE

BG

FI

AT

SE

BE

NL

DE

DK

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

About eight in ten respondents (79%) who have heard about EU co-financed projects in their region 
also say that the impact of these projects has been positive for the development of their city 
or region, while less than one in ten (7%) think the impact has been negative and the same share (7%) 
spontaneously say there has been no impact. The proportion of respondents saying that the impact of 
EU co-financed projects in their region has been positive remains at about the same level as in 2021. 
In the longer term, the trend since 2010 shows a slight positive trend in the proportion seeing a positive 
impact – from 76% in 2010 to 79% in 2023. 

In all but two Member States, at least three-quarters of respondents who have heard about EU 
co-financed projects in their regions think that these projects have had a positive impact on the 
development of their city or region. In seven countries, this view is shared by at least nine in ten 
respondents; this is the case, for example, in Malta and Finland (both 91%), Ireland (93%) and Poland 
(95%). At the lower end of the country ranking, in the Netherlands, 61% say that that EU co-funded 
projects have had a positive impact on the development of their city or region, but the overall lowest 
proportion is observed in Italy (56% ‘positive’ impact).  

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Q1C 

Taking into consideration all the projects you have heard about, would you say that this support 
has  had  a  positive  or  negative  impact  on  the  development  of  your  city  or  region?  
(% by country) 

Positive

Negative

No impact

Don't know / No answer

3

1

2

3

1

3

95

93

2

3

3

5

3

1

4

2

3

5

3

1

2

2

5

1

2

8

3

3

7

1

6

6

5

1

8

92

91

91

91

91

7

4

3

5

3

6

3

4

7

6

4

5

3

8

4

7

6

2

8

5

3

5

4

9

3

8

8

7

7

6

7

7

7

88

87

87

86

86

86

85

85

85

85

84

7

5

7

6

11

7

10

11

6

13

18

12

81

81

80

79

78

76

76

10

3

75

17

10

11

15

61

56

PL

IE

SI

EE

LT

FI

MT

EL

HR

CY

CZ

LV

SK

RO

HU

AT

LU

SE

BG

DE

BE EU27 PT

FR

ES

DK

NL

IT

Base: respondents who have heard about EU co-funded projects (n=11 835) 

Respondents who have heard of EU co-financed projects in their local area were asked where they have 
done  so.  National  TV  (36%)  and  the  Internet  (38%)  are  the  most-frequently  mentioned 
sources, with close to four in ten respondents saying that they get their information from this source. 
National TV and the Internet stayed at about the same level as in 2021. Other sources selected by one 
in five – or more – respondents are local and regional newspapers (24%, -3 pp compared to 2021), 
billboards (24%,), personal knowledge (24%) and local or regional TV (20%).  

Q1B  Where did you hear about it? Firstly? And then? (% total mentions, by country) 

National newspapers

18%

▼-2

Local or regional newspapers

24%

▼-3

National TV

36%

▼-1

Local or regional TV

20%

▼-1

National radio

15%

▲1

Local or regional radio

13%

=

Internet

38%

=

Online social networks

19%

▲2

Billboard

24%

▼-1

Workplace

16%

▼-1

Personal knowledge

24%

▼-1

Other 

9%

▼-1

Don't know

5%

=

▼▲ Evolution 2023-2021 (comparison with Flash Eurobarometer 497, July-August 2021) 
Base: respondents who have heard about EU co-funded projects (n=11 835 in 2023 and 12 182 in 2021) 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Section 2. Awareness of EU Cohesion Policy 

Almost  one  in  two  respondents  (46%)  say  they  have  heard  about  the  European  Regional 
Development Fund (ERDF) and/or the Cohesion Fund, and a similar proportion (45%) have heard 
about the European Social Fund. However, just one in ten respondents say they have heard about 
Interreg (11%) and Just Transition Fund (12%). About one in three respondents (29%) say they have 
heard about REACT-EU or NextGenerationEU (the EU's COVID-19 recovery plan). 

In total, 66% of respondents have heard of at least one of the shared management funds 
(ERDF/Cohesion  Fund,  European  Social  Fund,  Interreg,  Just  Transition  Fund).  This  number 
increases to 70% when also including those who have heard about REACT-EU or NextGenerationEU. 

Q2 

Which, if any, of the following forms of EU support you’ve heard about before? (% - EU27) 

Shared management funds 
(EU Cohesion policy)

EU recovery package to 
support member states
hit by the COVID-19 pandemic

Other EU funding tools

The European Regional Development 
Fund (ERDF) and/or the Cohesion Fund

46%

The European Social Fund

45%

Interreg

11%

The Just Transition Fund

Next Generation EU/Recovery Plan/
REACT EU

12%

29%

Erasmus+

58%

The European Solidarity Fund

42%

Horizon Europe

11%

Connecting Europe Facility

10%

None of these

16%

Don't know

1%

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

Awareness of EU regional policy funds is assessed against awareness of other EU funding tools, such 
as  Erasmus+.  This  assessment  shows  that  the  highest  level  of  awareness  (58%)  is  observed  for 
Erasmus+  (the  EU's  programme  to  support  education,  training,  youth  and  sport  in  Europe)  and  the 
lowest (10%) for connecting Europe Facility (a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs 
and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level) (10%).  

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund 

In Slovakia, 84% of respondents reply that they have heard of the European Regional Development 
Fund (ERDF) and/or the Cohesion Fund. Poland (77%), Croatia (76%)., Greece (74%) and Slovenia 
(72%) are also found at the higher end of the country ranking with more than seven in ten respondents 
saying that  they have heard of  ERDF  and/or the Cohesion Fund. In Denmark (24%), the Netherlands 
(25%) and Germany (26%), on the other hand, just about one in four respondents say the same. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Since 2021, awareness of ERDF and the Cohesion Fund appears to have decreased somewhat at EU 
level (from 49% in 2021 to 46% in 2023, -3 pp). At the individual country level, awareness of these two 
funds has significantly decreased in nine Member States. 

Q2 

Which, if any, of the following forms of EU support you’ve heard about before?  
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and/or the Cohesion Fund  
(% mentioned by country) 

84
▼-2

77
▼-2

76
▼-1

74
▼-3

72
▼-5

71
▼-2

69
▲6

64
▲2

64
▲2

61
▲5

60
▲8

59
▼-8

56
▲3

55
▼-5

55
▼-9

53
▼-1

53
▲3

52
▼-18

50
▼-6

49
=

46
▼-3

37
▲2

33
▼-1

30
▼-7

28
▼-9

26
▼-6

25
▲3

24
▲2

SK

PL

HR

EL

SI

CZ

EE

IE

LV

PT

MT

HU

IT

FI

BG

ES

LU

RO

LT

CY

EU27 AT

BE

FR

SE

DE

NL

DK

▼▲ Evolution 2023-2022 (comparison with Flash Eurobarometer 497, July-August 2021 – statistically 
significant changes shown in bold blue/pink); Base: all respondents (n=25 718 in 2023 and 25 706 in 2021) 

EU regional support to COVID-19 recovery 

In  total,  across  the  EU,  66%  of  respondents  report  being  aware  that  EU  regional  policy 
supported Member States in the health emergency and economic recovery in the context of 
the  COVID-19  pandemic.  The highest  level  of  awareness  is  measured  in Cyprus  and  Greece (both 
81%). In Denmark, however, less than half of respondents (48%) say they are aware of EU regional 
support  to  COVID-19  recovery;  this  figure  decreases  further  to  46%  in  the  Netherlands,  where 
awareness is overall the lowest. Compared to 2021, the percentage of respondents being aware of 
EU regional policy support to Member States in the health emergency response and economic recovery 
in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased in six Member States. 

Q3 

Are you aware that the EU regional policy supported Member States in the health emergency 
response and economic recovery in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? (% by country) 

Yes

No

Don't know

1

18

1

18

2

20

1

21

2

21

3

2

20

21

0

24

1

24

3

26

2

28

1

30

2

31

4

4

2

2

29

29

31

32

1

33

4

31

1

34

5

31

3

33

1

35

6

32

1

40

2

45

2

50

4

50

81

81

78

78

77

77

77

76

75

72

70

69

68

67

67

67

66

66

65

65

65

65

64

62

59

54

48

46

CY

EL

EE

ES

MT

PL

SI

IT

FI

LV

AT

LU

BG

HU

SK

PT EU27 BE

HR

IE

LT

CZ

FR

RO

SE

DE

DK

NL

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Section 3. Perceived benefits of EU regional policy 

Perceived benefits in daily life 

On average, 16% of respondents say they have benefitted in their daily life from a project 
funded by the ERDF or the Cohesion Fund; 80% say they have not and 4% that they do not know.  

Poland stands out with 59% of respondents saying they have benefitted in their daily life from 
a project funded by the ERDF or the Cohesion Fund. In Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Slovakia and 
Slovenia, between 32% and 36% of respondents say that they have benefitted in this way. In seven 
countries, less than 10% of respondents say the same: the Netherlands (4%), Belgium and France (both 
6%), Denmark, Italy, Sweden (all 7%) and Austria (9%). 

Compared to 2021, the share of respondents who have benefitted in their daily life from a project 
funded by the ERDF or the Cohesion Fund has increased in Greece (+10 pp) and Croatia (+8 pp), while 
the share has decreased in Ireland (-8 pp), Austria (-5 pp) and Italy (-5 pp). 

Q4A  Have you benefitted in your daily life from a project funded by the European Regional 

Development Fund (ERDF) or the Cohesion Fund? (% by country) 

Yes

No

Don't know

5

9

8

5

7

9

5

35

55

56

59

59

58

63

3

70

6

4

4

12

4

6

7

4

5

67

71

71

68

76

74

78

80

80

3

83

3

87

3

86

2

89

5

15

11

2

5

4

13

86

82

78

91

89

90

84

59

36

36

36

34

34

32

27

26

26

25

20

20

20

16

16

15

14

11

10

10

9

7

7

7

6

6

4

PL

CZ

SI

SK

LV

EE

EL

HR MT

BG

LT

HU

IE

FI

CY EU27 LU

PT

RO

ES

DE

AT

DK

SE

IT

BE

FR

NL

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

‘Feeling like an EU citizen’ 

About one in five  (22%)  reply  that  EU  funded projects in  their  area  contribute to  a  large 
extent to their feeling of being an EU citizen, and 35% say these projects contribute to some 
extent to this feeling. In most Member States (24 out of 27), at least half of respondents agree that 
EU funded projects in their area make them feel at least to some extent like an EU citizen. Poland stands 
out with 45% of respondents saying these projects make them, to a large extent, feel like an EU citizen, 
and 36% saying this applies to some extent.  

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Section 4. Priority regions for EU regional policy 

More than six in ten respondents (63%) say that the EU should invest in all its regions, while 
one in three (33%) say the EU should only invest in the poorer regions. In all but two Member 
States, a majority of respondents say the EU should invest in all its regions, led by respondents in 
Poland (71%) and Italy (69%). In Bulgaria, on the other hand, a majority of respondents (55%) think 
that investments should be targeted only at the poorer regions, and respondents in Portugal are 
divided on the subject (48% 'all regions' and 49% 'only the poorer regions'.  

Q5A 

European regional policy supports economic development projects in all regions. In your 
opinion, should the EU continue to invest in all regions or concentrate exclusively on the poorer 
ones? (% by country) 

The EU should invest in all regions

The EU should only invest in the poorer regions

Don't know

5

24

2

29

6

3

6

5

7

4

30

27

28

29

28

31

3

33

5

31

1

36

4

33

3

36

4

3

3

35

37

37

3

37

6

4

7

35

38

35

3

39

2

40

13

3

6

11

3

4

41

40

49

55

31

36

71

69

67

67

67

66

66

65

65

65

63

63

61

61

61

61

60

59

59

58

58

58

56

56

54

52

48

42

PL

IT

SE

MT

DE

FI

LV

FR

LU

AT

EL EU27 SI

SK

EE

RO

BE

CZ

CY

LT

IE

HR

DK

ES

HU

NL

PT

BG

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

regions.  Maintaining 
competitiveness 

The highest priority is given by respondents 
to  regions  with  high  unemployment 
(65%).  These  are  followed  by  deprived 
urban areas (53%)  and remote rural or 
mountain areas (53%). About one in three 
respondents  (29%)  would  give  priority  to 
and 
border 
of 
improving 
developed regions is considered a priority 
for  investment  by  just  over  one  in  five 
respondents  (22%).  Compared  to  2021; 
border regions are now selected by a higher 
share  of  respondents  (29%,  +6  pp),  while 
regions  with  high  unemployment  (65%,  -4 
pp) and deprived urban areas (53%, -2 pp) 
are  now  selected  by  a  lower  share  of 
respondents.  

Q5B  Which regions would you target for investments 

under EU regional policy? (multiple answers 
allowed) (% - EU27) 

Regions with high 
unemployment

65%

Deprived urban areas

53%

Remote rural or mountain 
areas

53%

Border regions

29%

Developed regions, in order 
to maintain or improve their 
competitiveness

22%

Other

1%

Don't know

3%

▼-4

▼-2

▼-1

▲6

=

=

▲1

▼▲ Evolution 2023-2021 (comparison with Flash 
Eurobarometer 497, July-August 2021); Base: all 
respondents (n=25 718 in 2023 and 25 706 in 2021) 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Section 5. Important areas for EU regional policy investment 

All domains of  EU  regional  policy  listed in the survey are regarded  as being meaningfully important 
domains by a majority of respondents. At the EU level, 93% consider investment in education, health 
or  social  infrastructures  as  important  for  their  city  or  region,  followed  by  investments  in  the 
environment (89%). More than eight in ten respondents say that and renewable, clean energy and 
energy networks (85%) research and innovation (84%), support for small and medium-sized 
businesses (83%) and vocational training (82%) are important domains.  

Smaller  majorities  support  the  other  investment  domains:  78%  state  that  investment  in  transport 
facilities  is important  for  their  city  or  region  and  63%  say  the  same  about  tourism  and  culture. 
Finally, 58% say that the reception and integration of migrants and refugees is an important area 
for investment and 57% say the same about broadband Internet access. 

There is no shift in priorities compared to 2021, and education, health or social infrastructures, 
and the environment remain at the top of the list.  

Q6A 

EU regional policy can invest in many different domains. Which of the following examples do 
you consider among the more important or less important for your city or region?  
(% - EU27) 

More important

Less important

Don't know

Education, health or social
infrastructures

Environment

Renewable, clean energy and energy
networks

93▲1

7▼-1

1=

89▼-2

10▲2

1=

85▼-2

13▲1

1▲1

Research and innovation

84▼-1

15▲1

1=

Support for small and medium-sized
businesses

Vocational training

Transport facilities (rail, road or
airports)

83▼-2

16▲2

1=

82▲1

17▼-1

1=

78▲3

21▼-3

1=

Tourism and culture

63▼-2

37▲2

1=

Reception and integration of
migrants and refugees

Broadband Internet access

58▲4

57▼-2

39▼-4

3=

41▲2

2=

▼▲ Evolution 2023-2021 (comparison with Flash Eurobarometer 497, July-August 2021  
Base: all respondents (n=25 718 in 2023 and 25 706 in 2021) 

Respondents were also asked which domains should be targeted for EU investment in the next 
few years. They were presented with the same list of policy domains and were asked to name all the 
ones that they think should be prioritised in the next few years. One in two respondents (51%) say that 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

education, health and social infrastructures should be prioritised in EU regional policy in the next 
few years; 39% think that the EU should invest in the environment and 34% think it should invest in 
renewable, clean energy and energy networks in the next few years. More than 20% of respondents 
mention support for SMEs (28%), transport facilities (27%), research and innovation (26%) and 
vocational training (24%). Fewer respondents say that EU investment over the next few years should 
be targeted at reception and integration of migrants and refugees (18%), tourism and culture 
(13%) or broadband Internet access (10%).  

Primary level of governance 

A majority of respondents think that decisions about EU regional policy projects should be 
taken at sub-national levels, with 30% opting for the regional level and 24% for the local level. The 
remaining respondents think that decisions should be taken at the national level or higher, with 21% 
opting for the national level and 21% who think that the EU should take decisions on projects funded 
by its own regional policy. Since 2021, these results have remained nearly unchanged.  

The regional level is the preferred level for decisions about EU regional policy for 37% of respondents 
in Austria and Slovakia; this figure decreases to 8% in Malta. In Poland, 39% of respondents reply that 
decisions about EU regional policy should be made at local level; this view is also shared by 36% of 
respondents in Czechia and 34% in Romania. In Luxembourg, on the other hand, just 11% of respondents 
share this view.  

The largest shares of respondents who think that decisions about EU regional policy should be made at 
national level  are  found  in Finland  and Malta (both 42%);  in Cyprus, Slovenia,  Ireland, Estonia and 
Sweden, this level is selected by between 30% and 34% of respondents. Finally, the view that the EU 
should take decisions on projects funded by regional policy ranges from 8% in Czechia and 9% in Finland 
and Poland to 33% in Luxembourg.   

Q7 

At which level should decisions about EU regional policy projects primarily be taken?  
(% by country) 

Local

Regional

National

5

20

21

21

33

4

28

30

10

29

4

8

18

34

36

4

19

26

37

3

27

26

26

17

14

5

9

5

27

17

32

15

29

28

1

21

24

11

32

4

24

4

21

3

9

42

3

3

6

20

21

28

25

21

16

19

4

25

9

21

3

19

31

16

22

25

23

25

30

27

24

34

25

20

22

31

29

29

21

24

22

19

18

32

30

27

26

18

Don't know

7

20

4

24

7

19

27

42

21

2

9

16

34

7

6

20

21

27

23

5

12

34

35

23

16

30

25

8

39

34

23

22

19

20

19

5

13

19

37

3

11

30

28

28

26

EU

4

33

29

23

11

19

26

AT

BE

BG

CY

CZ

DE

DK

EE

EL

ES EU27

FI

FR

HR

HU

IE

IT

LT

LU

LV

MT

NL

PL

PT

RO

SE

SI

SK

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

Section 6. Cross-border cooperation 

About one in four respondents (26%) say they are aware of cooperation between regions from 
different countries because of EU regional funding. In the longer term, the overall level of awareness 
of this type of cooperation has increased – from 19% in 2010 to 26% in 2021 and 2023.  

In four EU Member States, a majority of respondents say they are aware of cooperation between regions 
from different countries because of EU regional policy: Poland (63%), Latvia (58%), Czechia (53%) and 
Malta (51%). In the seven countries at the lower end of the country ranking, on the other hand, less than 
one in five respondents are aware of this type of cooperation.  

Q8 

Are you aware of cooperation between regions from different countries because of EU regional 
funding? (% by country) 

Yes

3

34

6

36

2

45

6

2

3

4

6

56

63

62

43

61

1

67

2

68

5

65

3

67

1

71

No

4

69

Don't know

2

72

1

73

2

73

6

71

1

76

2

75

1

76

1

80

1

81

2

82

2

82

2

83

1

84

12

70

63

58

53

51

42

35

35

33

32

31

31

30

28

27

26

26

25

23

23

23

23

19

18

18

16

16

16

15

PL

LV

CZ

MT

HR

IE

LU

SK

SI

EE

LT

AT

BG

PT EU27

FI

DE

HU

ES

NL

RO

IT

EL

CY

BE

DK

FR

SE

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

Areas benefiting from an EU cooperation strategy 

About one in four respondents, in 
total,  say  they  are  aware  of  at 
least  one  of  the  four  macro-
the 
strategies; 
regional 
individual  country  level,  this  figure 
varies  between  7%  in  Portugal  and 
64% in Finland.  

at 

Looking at the specific EU strategies, 
14% say being aware of the Baltic 
Sea  Area  Strategy,  9%  of  the 
Danube River Area Strategy, 7% 
of the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea 
Area  Strategy  and  9%  of  the 
Alpine Area Strategy. 

Q9 

Are you aware that there is an EU strategy to 
promote cooperation between countries in the 
following areas? (% - EU27) 

Yes, I am aware about the Baltic Sea area 
strategy

14%

Yes, I am aware about the Danube river 
area strategy

Yes, I am aware about the Adriatic and 
the Ionian Sea area strategy

Yes, I am aware about the Alpine area 
strategy

9%

7%

9%

None

68%

Don't know

6%

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 531 
Citizens' awareness and perception of EU regional policy 

EU Outermost regions 

On  average,  across  the  EU,  35%  of  respondents  can  name  at  least  one  of  the  nine 
outermost regions. The EU level result is, however, mostly driven by the higher level of knowledge 
observed in three large Member States – France, Spain and Germany. In 18 Member States, less than 
one in four respondents can name at least one of the nine EU outermost regions. 

The outermost region mentioned most-frequently is the Canary Islands (14%), followed by the four 
of the five French overseas departments: Guadeloupe (12%), Martinique (12%), French Guiana 
(11%) and Reunion Island (11%). The Azores are mentioned by 8% of respondents and Madeira by 
7% of respondents. The smallest shares are observed for Mayotte (6%) and Saint Martin (3%). 

Q10 

There are nine EU outermost regions which are territories or islands located far away from 
the European continent. Which territories or islands can you name? (% - EU27) 

Knows at least one 
outermost region

35%

Canary Islands

Guadeloupe

Martinique

French Guyana

Reunion

Azores

Madeira

Mayotte

Saint Martin

14%

12%

12%

11%

11%

8%

7%

6%

3%

Other

24%

None

38%

Don't know

17%

Base: all respondents (n=25 718) 

11