Cypriots oppose Cyprus entry to EMU by 51%

Less than a year before Cyprus’ entry to the EU’ Economic Monetary Union (EMU), Cypriots oppose by 51% to the adoption of the Euro, the EU’s single currency, according to ”Cyprusbarometre 2006” survey, carried out by RAI Consultants on behalf of the Laiki Group.
According to the survey Cypriots oppose by 51% the accession of Cyprus to the EMU, recording an increase of 10% compared to 41% of the 2005 Cyprusbarometre.
Furthermore, as Cyprus is getting closer to the date of accession to the EMU on January 1 2008 Cyprus, Cypriots disagree with the EU single currency. In 2002 Cypriots were opposing the Euro only by 25%, whereas this figure rose steadily to 27% in 2003, 45% in 2004, 49% in 2005 and 54% in 2006.
The Cypriots believe that Cyprus’ entry the EU will have negative effects to the unemployment rate and inflation with 79%, followed by the competitiveness of the economy with 67%, financing cost with 60%, the fiscal deficit with 57% and tourism with 27%.
The 2006 survey also showed that the overwhelming majority of the Cyprus (88%) are pessimistic regarding a solution to the Cyprus problem soon. The highest expectation for a Cyprus solution was recorded in 2004, a year when the efforts for a Cyprus solution culminated with the Annan plan, with only 23%. Since then the surveys showed a steady decline. In 2005 the percentage was 11% and in 2006 went further down to 9%.
The Cyprusbarometre has been carried out by Laiki Group since 1999. The 2006 survey was conducted between December 2006 and January 2007 a period during which a total of 1,000 interviews were taken.

EU accession is blamed by 21% for price increases and a whopping 75% of people feel there is not enough information on the EU. 33% of people believed that the economy had got worse in 2006 compared to 2005. 32% of Cypriots say that they use the internet
If they had a substantial amount of money:47% say that they would invest in land, 23% say they would give it to their children, 12% would put it in the bank, 11% would buy a house or an apartment. 35% of Cypriots consider drugs the most important problem Cypriot society faces after the island’s political division.