Reduction of extreme poverty and hunger in the world (66%) and the campaign against Aids, malaria and other contagious diseases in the developing countries (46%) are – according to a Eurobarometer survey published last week – the priorities for global development expressed by a highly representative sample of 27,000 Europeans, interviewed between February and March this year in the 27 member states. The interviewees were specifically asked to express their support or not for EU policies and initiatives for the achievement of the UN Millennium Goals. 64% of Europeans indicate sub-Saharan Africa as the region of the planet that most needs humanitarian aid, followed by the Indian sub-continent (34%). The survey findings confirm the general opinion that the reasons at the basis of the development aid furnished by the rich countries consist more in pragmatism (global political and economic stability and protection of trade interests) than in the real will to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the beneficiary populations and societies. Lastly the survey underlines the fact that most Europeans are ignorant of the leadership of the EU among world aid donors (no less than 48 billion euros in 2006, equivalent to 0.42% of the Union’s total GDP and to approximately 100 euros pro capite ).
