Poll shows most Egyptians have a positive impression of the EU

Sixty-five per cent of Egyptians have a positive or fairly positive impression of the EU, and half of them feel their country has good relations with the European Union. Forty-eight per cent of Egyptians are aware of the financial support provided by the EU, and fifty-eight per cent of them say it is effective – these are just some of the findings of the latest annual opinion poll in Egypt, published by the EU Neighbours South project.

The survey – part of a wave of opinion polls carried out in eight southern Mediterranean partner countries – was conducted in Egypt in October 2018, with 2,000 people interviewed by phone. Respondents were asked about their general perceptions of the EU and the values with which it is associated, about EU relations with their country, and the impact of EU financial support. The surveys also look at preferred sources of information, how people feel about their personal situation and the situation in their country, and their expectations for the future.

Asked to describe relations with the EU, 79% said they were good. Forty-eight per cent of Egyptians were aware of the financial support provided by the EU, and fifty-eight per cent of those saw this support as effective. Furthermore, half of them said that they trust the EU.

In more general terms, 64% of those asked had a positive image of the EU. The values most frequently associated with the EU were individual freedom, gender equality and economic prosperity.

Egyptians feel EU support has contributed the most to trade (68%), infrastructure development (60%) and development aid (57%) in their country, and are keen for the EU to play a greater role in the areas of economic development and trade.

In general, Egyptians think that the European Union’s image in their national media is positive. On television, fifty-three per cent of them believe that the image is very to fairly positive, while nineteen per cent believe it to be very to fairly negative. Television is followed by printed press (49% positive, 25% neutral, 12% negative) and websites (345% positive, 10% neutral, 13% negative).

The EU Neighbours South regional overview report and factsheets are available here.

To find out more about EU – Egypt cooperation and partnership, go here.