The survey of over 28,000 EU citizens in 28 member states was carried out in early December 2017 and among the main findings, published today, is the acknowledgement that a clear majority of citizens (55%) see "providing safe, healthy and good quality food" as one of the main responsibilities of farmers. This is considered the single most important role played by farmers in every EU country. When asked about the priorities for the CAP, 62% of respondents (+6% since 2015) said that "providing safe, healthy and good quality food" should be the top priority for the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP).

Reflecting the increasing emphasis on CAP's contribution to the environment and climate challenge, 50% of citizens said that "protecting the environment and tacking climate change" should be the main objective of the CAP, which is a six-point increase since the last similar survey in 2015. An increase in the environment and climate ambition will be a key feature of the Commission's legislative proposals for the next CAP.

Awareness of the support provided through the CAP

Awareness of the CAP remains high, with more than two-thirds (67%) of respondents having heard of the support that the EU gives farmers through the CAP. There has been little change in this figure over the past two surveys, going back to 2013. At least half of the respondents in all but one country had heard of the support that the EU gives farmers through the CAP.

In terms of the support provided, 45% of respondents thought that the level of financial support given to farmers was "about right", which is up 4% on the 2015 figure and is four times the number that believe that the level of support is "too high" and significantly above the number that believes it is "too low". Perhaps not surprisingly, a large number of respondents (44%) also said they would like to see an increase in EU financial support for farmers over the next 10 years.

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Full text is available via the link below.

More information: Eurobarometer survey (full report, summary, country factsheets)

Via ec.europa.eu