Cypriots worry about crime, inflation

Eurobarometer survey shows trust in EU steady at 61%

 

The two main problems worrying Cypriotcitizens remain crime (51%, up by 9% from the autumn of 2006) and inflation (28%, down by 11% from the autumn of 2006) according to the sixth survey of the Eurobarometer series conducted in Cyprus after its accession to the European Union. Cyprus joined the European Union with the Cyprus problem remaining unsolved and the acquis communautaire being implemented only in the areas under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

The survey was conducted between 11 April and 7 May. The main events which dominated the media during this period concerned Turkey’s EU accession process and the fulfillment of its related obligations, the presidential election process in Turkey and France, the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the third anniversary of Cyprus’ accession to the European Union, the discussions concerning the viability of the Social Security Fund in Cyprus, the studies related to the extraction of petroleum off the coast of Cyprus, the upcoming accession of Cyprus to the Eurozone, climate change, the discussion regarding the possible accession of Cyprus to the Partnership for Peace, the arrest of MEP Marios Matsakis by the British Bases authorities, the row with regards to the creation of landfill facilities near the village of Lympia, matters concerning the relations between the two communities on the island, Iran’s nuclear program, the arrest of British marines by Iran and the continuing violence in Iraq.       

The overwhelming majority of citizens (87%) are satisfied with the life they lead. The level of satisfaction has been marginally reduced by 1% from the levels recorded in the autumn and spring of 2006. A significant increase of 6% is observed in the population which is very satisfied.

A large number of citizens do not expect changes with regard to their personal situation in the coming 12 months:

45% expect that life in general will remain the same, 35% expect and improvement and 13% a worsening. An increase is observed in the number expecting improvement of their personal situation in relation to the autumn of 2006 (28%).

54% do not expect changes in the financial situation of their household, 15% expect an improvement and 27% a worsening.

On their personal employment situation 61% of citizens predict stability. 12% expects improvement and 10% a worsening. It is noteworthy that 50% of the population expects working conditions in Cyprus to deteriorate.

Over time, short term expectations regarding personal issues appear marginally differentiated.

 

Expectations as to the evolution of the national economy and employment conditions are dominated by pessimism:

Over half the population expects that both the national economy (53%) and the employment conditions (50%) will deteriorate within the next 12 months. Only 14% believes that the national economy will improve and 26% believes it will remain unchanged. (There is increased optimism compared to the autumn of 2006).

 

There is considerable increase in the level of trust shown by citizens towards the government and parliament:

Compared to the Eurobarometer of autumn 2006 the level of trust by the citizens towards the government increased from 56% to 64% and the level of trust towards the parliament increased from 51% to 67%.

65% of Cypriot citizens trust television, higher that the 58% in the EU27. 33% trust the internet (EU27 39%), 34% do not, with a significant 33% (down from the 45% recorded in autumn 2006) not responding.

Cypriot citizens continue to exhibit a high level of trust towards the European Union:

The majority of citizens (61%) trusts the European Union (increased from the 57% in the autumn of 2006). It is significant that the degree of trust towards the European Union is higher than the EU27 average (57%).

Trust in the European Parliament is expressed by 61% of Cypriots, in the European Commission by 58%, in the Council of the European Union by 59% and in the European Central Bank by 57%. All of the percentages have increased since the autumn 2006 survey and are higher that the EU27 average.

Half the citizens residing in the areas under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus view membership of the European Union positively. The majority of citizens believe that membership is a positive thing (44%), 17% considers it a negative thing and the remaining 37% neither positive nor negative.

 Over time, the percentage of citizens who believe that Cyprus has benefited from accession to the EU remains stable: 44% of citizens believe that Cyprus has benefited from its accession to the European Union. This percentage remains below the EU27 average (59%) and shows a reduction of 2% from the autumn of 2006. The percentage which believes that Cyprus has not benefited is at 46%, an increase of 2% from the autumn survey.

The vast majority of Cypriots (72%, the highest in the EU) feel safer because Cyprus is a member of the EU. More than half the citizens (53%) state that they have a positive image of the European Union:

More than half the citizens state that they understand the way the European Union works:

A strong majority of citizens have heard of the European Parliament (88%), the European Commission (87%), the Council of the European Union (85%), and the European Central Bank (78%).

Only 20% of Cypriot citizens answered positively with regards to their level of knowledge on European political affairs, while 79% answered negatively. The corresponding levels in the EU27 are 30% and 68%.

Only 10% of Cypriots never look for information about the European Union. Of those that do, 68% rely on television, 36% on daily newspapers, and a significant 28% on the internet.

 

According to Cypriot citizens, in order to strengthen the European Union in the future, the main priority of European institutions in the coming years should be the fight against crime (33%).

Following, in order of preference, are social issues (32%) and environment issues (32%). The main priorities set by European citizens as a whole are environment issues (34%) and the fight against crime (33%).

 

 

69% (a decrease of 6%) of those asked support a European Union constitution, and 17% are against (an increase of 5%). The equivalent average percentages for the EU27 are 66% in support and 20% opposed.

73% of citizens in the areas under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus have the opinion that in 50 years the European Union will have its own army, the highest percentage recorded in the EU. The corresponding number for the EU27 is 56%.

50% of Cypriots are in favour of a European Monetary Union with a common currency, the Euro, with 45% against.

The equivalent averages in the EU 27 are 63% for and 31% against. The highest support is recorded in Slovenia with 91% and the lowest in the United Kingdom with 29% in favour.

61% of Cypriots have the opinion that the EU will have, with the Euro, a more powerful currency than the dollar, in 50 years. 

The highest level of positive opinion on the matter is recorded in the Netherlands with 72%, whilst the EU27 average stands at 61%.

Public opinion in Cyprus is split with regards to globalization, with 44% of respondents considering it a negative thing and 39% positive.

27% of citizens associate the term globalization with foreign investment in Cyprus, and 25% with increased competition for Cypriot companies.

37% of Cypriots agreed that the EU helps to protect them from the negative effects of globalization, and 46% agreed that the European Union enables European citizens to better benefit from the positive effects of globalization.

The majority of Cypriots (65%) are in favor of further enlargement of the European Union, with only 20% against.

The EU27 average on further enlargement if the European Union is 49% in support and 39% against.

On the matter a European Monetary Union Cypriots are for by 50%, on a common foreign policy among the member states of the EU by 79%, on a common defense and security policy by 91%, and in the matter of a constitution for the European Union by 69%.

 

The overwhelming majority of Cypriots (96%) believe that global warming is an issue that should be dealt by the European Union urgently. 

Nearly half the citizens in the areas under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus believe that the national legislation protects them from the use of personal data by third parties (46%). 

62% of the citizens say that they are not well informed with regards to the rules and requirements for protecting the personal data of citizens in Cyprus. The average in the EU is at 60%.

With regard to giving law enforcement authorities access to personal data for the purpose of fighting crime and terrorism, only 23% of Cypriots consider it an unwarranted intrusion into citizens’ personal affairs (ΕU27 26%).

With regards to the issues that most create a feeling of community among European Union citizens, Cypriots in the areas under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus ranked first the issue of culture (30%), followed by values (27%), and religion (25%). On the issue of religion Cyprus is among the top four ranked EU member states. 

The equivalent top issues for the EU in whole are culture and economy with 27% respectively, and history with 21%.