EUROPEAN AND SLOVENIAN PUBLIC OPINION ON PROTECTION AGAINST NATURAL AND OTHER DISASTERS

Abstract

An analysis of public opinion data helps us identify the fundamental views and opinions of the European and Slovenian public on civil protection and protection against natural and other disasters. A descriptive analysis of data on the key challenges and priorities of the European Union (EU) shows that security and related variables occupy a very important place in European public opinion. Among the perceived threats, disasters related to climate change are on average the most prominent; however, there are also significant differences between EU Member States. European public opinion unequivocally supports the coordinating role of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism in responding to disasters. It also supports the fact that the EU offers solidarity assistance in the event of a disaster to all countries around the world that request help. On average, trust in regional or local, national, and European authorities with regard to their preparedness for disasters at the EU level is not satisfactory, and there are very large differences between individual countries, as well. The Slovenian public emphasize the importance of developing disaster protection, have a high level of trust in disaster response actors and in media reporting on disasters, believe in the well- preparedness of the actors, and assess the effectiveness of their response to disasters differently from case to case. The public see the Slovenian Armed Forces as an important entity in providing disaster relief.