Awareness of EU-funded programmes has increased among Algerian citizens, according to new opinion poll

Almost half of Algerians feel their country has good relations with the European Union, and 42% think that the EU has a positive influence on the development of Algeria. Around a third of Algerians know of programmes financed by the EU in their country, and 48% of those who knew that the EU provided financial support to Algeria believed that it had been effective. These are just some of the findings of the latest annual opinion poll in Algeria, just 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 Algeria between June and July 2020, with 1,044 people consulted in face-to-face interviews. 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, including in supporting their country’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. 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.

In general, Algerians were in line in their perceptions of the EU with the regional average for the three Maghreb countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia).

Asked to describe relations with the EU, 45% said they were good, compared to an average of 59% in the Maghreb (67% for Mashrek).

In more general terms, 36% of those asked had a positive image of the EU (below the regional average). As in other countries of the region, the values most frequently associated with the EU were human rights, individual freedom and gender equality, while those least associated with the EU were the absence of corruption and tolerance.

Algerians feel EU support has contributed the most to trade (39%) and health (29%) in their country and are keen for the EU to play an even greater role in those areas.

In general, Algerians think that the European Union’s image in their national media is positive. On television, fifty-one per cent of them believe that the image is very to fairly positive, while only sixteen per cent believe it to be very to fairly negative. Television is preceded by websites (50% positive, 20% neutral, 16% negative) and followed by printed press (34% positive, 24% neutral, 18% negative).

Algerians are generally satisfied with their lives (63%, in line with the regional average), and are generally optimistic for the next 12 months, with 59% expecting their life in general to be better (against 12% who expect it to be worse) and 67% thinking that the current financial situation of their household is good (against 32% who think it is bad).

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

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