The EU citizens’ awareness of the regional policy, according to the Eurobarometer survey announced in Brussels today, is higher in Slovenia (66%), Lithuania (65%), Austria (64%) and Ireland (64%), while it seems to be low in Bulgaria (35%), Cyprus (35%) and the Netherlands (30%). Germany, France and the United Kingdom are below the EU’s average. Only one out of five interviewees "answered that the regional policy brings no benefits to their region" and "most of them are French, Dutch, Bulgarian and Slovenian citizens". Lithuania and Ireland "are instead examples of countries in which the citizens recognise almost unanimously the positive impact of European support". The areas which the Europeans would like to have the EU investments most focussed on "are education, health, social facilities, environmental protection". In addition "they think support should be focussed on vocational training and aids to small-sized businesses". Finally they would like to have more transparency in the allocation and management of funds.
