Flash Eurobarometer 491 : A long term vision for EU rural areas

79% of EU respondents support the EU taking into account rural areas in EU public spending. The key need of rural areas that is mentioned most frequently by 44% of the respondents is transport infrastructure and connections. On the consequences of the pandemic, a third of respondents say that following the end of the restrictions, they will be much more likely to visit rural areas for leisure. About one in twelve say that, compared to before the pandemic, they are more likely to consider moving to a more rural area (for urban residents) or a less rural area (for rural residents). Finally, among employed respondents, 21% say they will be much more likely and 16% somewhat more likely to work from home at least some of the time when all the current COVID-19 restrictions end. In terms of environmental issues, a majority of respondents reply that it is an immediate problem for the rural areas in their country. Including in environmental problems, the destruction of natural habitats or the loss of animals or plant species is identified as an immediate and urgent problem for rural areas by 65% of EU citizens.

The results by volumes are distributed as follows:

• Volume A: Countries
• Volume AA: Groups of countries
• Volume A' (AP): Trends
• Volume AA' (AAP): Trends of groups of countries
• Volume B: EU/socio-demographics
• Volume B' (BP) : Trends of EU/ socio-demographics
• Volume C: Country/socio-demographics

Researchers may also contact GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: https://www.gesis.org/eurobarometer