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Representation in Ireland
News article31 January 2023Representation in Ireland

Strong Irish support for Next Generation EU: Eurobarometer

A new Eurobarometer survey shows strong Irish and EU support for the principle of solidarity underpinning NextGenerationEU, the European Union's temporary recovery instrument.

Infographic on the results of the Eurobarometer on Next Generation EU

A new Eurobarometer survey shows strong Irish and EU support for the principle of solidarity underpinning NextGenerationEU, the European Union's temporary recovery instrument worth €800 billion, which will support Europe’s social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and build a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe for future generations.

Three-quarters of Irish and EU respondents (74%) think that it is a good approach for EU Member States to provide financial support to each other through NextGenerationEU to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey also shows that 75% of Irish and EU respondents think that RepowerEU, the Commission's plan to help Member States achieve more energy independence from Russia, is a good thing.

Other findings:

Awareness about the National Recovery Plans

In Ireland, 49% of respondents are aware of a Recovery Plan for their country to support economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and be better prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead. This is slightly below the EU average of 51%. Awareness was highest in Portugal (78%) and lowest in Estonia and Sweden (both 28%).

Awareness of NextGenerationEU

Only 23% of Irish people have seen, heard or read something about NextGenerationEU, the EU's COVID-19 recovery instrument. The EU average was 33% rising to 62% in Italy. It was lowest in Estonia at 14%. The main channels through which Irish people learned about NextGenerationEU were: television (49%), social media (36%), radio (34%) and press (29%).

Knowledge about the financing of the National Recovery Plan

41% of Irish respondents think that the National Recovery Plan of their country is financed partially through NextGenerationEU, 12% think the plan is entirely financed through NextGenerationEU and 12% think it is entirely financed through national funds.

36% of EU respondents think that the National Recovery Plan of their country is financed partially through NextGenerationEU, 17% think the plan is entirely financed through NextGenerationEU and 10% think it is financed entirely through national funds.

Views about solidarity and performance-based nature of NextGenerationEU funding

71% of Irish respondents consider it a good approach for their country that Member States provide financial support to each other through NextGenerationEU, slightly above the EU average of 70%. People in Portugal (84%) were the most likely to express this opinion while those in Sweden and Finland (both 56%) were the least.

Performance-based nature of NextGenerationEU funding

To receive funds from the EU Recovery Plan ‘NextGenerationEU’, Member States have prepared National Recovery Plans outlining reforms and investments they commit to undertake in the future. EU financial support is provided when the expected results are achieved.

60% of Irish respondents, a little below the EU average of 64%, agree that the payments from NextGenerationEU to Member States should be conditional on achieving the expected results. Respondents in Croatia (78%) were most likely to share this view while those in Latvia (56%) were the least.

Priority areas and impact of NextGenerationEU

When asked which area (out of a list of nine areas) should receive the most EU support, the top 3 areas for Irish respondents were:

  • Health (74%) compared to an EU average of 57%
  • Energy, environmental issues and climate change (43%) compared to an EU average of 48%
  • Employment and better working conditions (41%) compared to an EU average of 37%.

Expected impact of NextGenerationEU

68% of Irish respondents think that the EU Recovery Plan ‘NextGenerationEU’ will have a positive impact on future generations (22% ‘yes – a lot’ and 46% ‘yes - a little’). This is just above the EU average of 66% (20% ‘yes – a lot’ and 46% ‘yes - a little’).  Respondents in Poland were the most likely to think that NextGenerationEU would have a positive impact on future generations while those in Sweden (55%) were the least.

62% of Irish (15% ‘yes – a lot’ and 47% ‘yes - a little’) respondents expect that the EU Recovery Plan ‘NextGenerationEU’ will lead to more economic growth and new jobs, just above the EU average of 61%. Respondents in Poland (78%) were the most likely to agree while those in Sweden (44%) were the least.

38% of Irish respondents (9% ‘yes – a lot’ and 29% ‘yes - a little’) think that NextGenerationEU will have a positive impact on their personal or professional situation, above the EU average of 35%. People in Poland (52%) most likely to agree while those in Finland (18%) were the least.

45% of Irish respondents (9% ‘yes – a lot’ and 36% ‘yes - a little’) think that NextGenerationEU will contribute to resolving the current energy crisis, slightly below the EU average of 47%. Respondents in Poland (65%) are overall the most likely to think that NextGenerationEU will contribute to resolving the current energy crisis while those in Sweden (25%) are the least.

78% of Irish respondents (35% ‘yes – a lot’ and 43% ‘yes - a little’) think that the EU Recovery Plan ‘NextGenerationEU’ will be slowed down by the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, well above the EU average of 67%. Respondents in Denmark (82%) were the most likely to share this view while those in Hungary (49%) were the least.

Opinions about RepowerEU

75% of Irish and EU respondents think that RepowerEU, the Commission's plan to help Member States achieve more energy independence from Russia, is a good thing.  Portugal (91%) had the highest share of respondents with this view while Slovakia (55%) had the lowest.

Background information

NextGenerationEU is the European Union's temporary recovery instrument worth €800 billion, which supports the social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and build a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe for future generations.

The centrepiece of NextGenerationEU is the Recovery and Resilience Facility – an instrument that provides grants and loans to support reforms and investments in the EU Member States for a total of €723.8 billion in current prices. Part of the funds – up to €338 billion – are being provided to Member States through grants and another part – up to €385.8 billion – through loans.

Funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility are being provided to Member States in line with their national Recovery and Resilience plans – the roadmaps to reforms and investments to make EU economies greener, digital and more resilient. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the first performance-based instrument of this scale, in the EU, with financial support being provided to Member States subject to the successful delivery of the commitments Member States took in their Recovery and Resilience Plan.

REPowerEU is the European Commission’s plan to accelerate the EU's green transition and increase the resilience, security and sustainability of the Union energy system through the decrease of dependence on fossil fuels and the diversification of energy supplies. Following the political agreement reached in December 2022 by the European Parliament and the Council, the Recovery and Resilience Facility will provide financial support for REPowerEU. Member States will add to their existing Recovery and Resilience Plans a dedicated chapter with new actions to deliver on the REPowerEU objectives. Additional funding is made available to Member States to finance REPowerEU.

A Flash Eurobarometer survey was commissioned by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs and the Recovery and Resilience Task Force (RECOVER) to collect information on EU citizens’ awareness of NextGenerationEU and their views, opinions and expectations about the recovery instrument.

The Flash Eurobarometer survey, as well as an Ireland country fact sheet, can be downloaded from: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2653

Over one thousand people in Ireland were interviewed for the survey between 7 and 13 December 2022.

Details

Publication date
31 January 2023
Author
Representation in Ireland