Eurobarometer: Cypriots optimistic about EU’s future

Up to 70% of Cypriots are optimistic about the Future of the EU, according to the EU-wide Eurobarometer, carried out between April and May 2007 and which was made public in Brussels.
The Eurobarometer survey shows that Cypriots favour the further enlargement of the EU, while they are becoming more sensitive to climate change issues.
Regarding the future of the EU, 70% of Cypriots are optimistic while 20% expressed the opposite view. Cypriots supported by 69% the European constitution, whereas only 17% expressed opposition.
44% of Cypriots polled considered Cyprus EU membership as ”a good thing”, a 17% considered it as ”bad”, while 37% had a neutral view. Cypriots are divided regarding the question whether Cyprus’ accession was beneficial, since 44% gave an affirmative answer and 46% a negative one.
Regarding the Cypriots’ biggest concerns, crime came first with 51% and rising prices second with 28%. Furthermore, 87% of the Cypriots believe that climate change demands an urgent shift in EU policy so that carbon dioxide emissions should be reduced by 2020.
The EU’s image in Cyprus is good to very good by 53%, neutral by 29%, while 11% of the Cypriots said the EU’s image is negative to very negative. A 61% of the Cypriots trust the European Parliament and 58% the European Commission.
Regarding their assessment of the national economic situation, 11% of the Cypriots said that they consider Cyprus‘ economic situation as very good, 66% rather good, whereas 3% very bad and 18% rather bad.
Eurobarometer also published the replies given by the Turkish Cypriots regarding the acquis communautaire (EU law). 60% of the T/Cs said that it would be ”a good thing” if the acquis communautaire would be applied in the Turkish-occupied since 1974 areas of Cyprus, whereas 16% expressed the opposite view.
A 67% of the Turkish Cypriots said that the application of the acquis communautaire in the occupied areas would be beneficial, whereas 23% expressed the opposite view.