The Spring 2009 Eurobarometer has indicated that people living under the control of the Republic of Cyprus are satisfied with their lives (35% very satisfied and 50% fairly satisfied) and describe the economic situation as good (58%), making this the third highest percentage recorded in the EU, where the average is 20%.
The survey, taken from a sample size of 505 people, has also shown a significant drop in the level of trust in the Cyprus government and the Cyprus House of Representatives since the Autum 2008 Eurobarometer survey. The trust of citizens towards the Cyprus government is reduced to 56%, compared to 65% in Autum and the corresponding figure for the House is now at 53% from 63%. However people continue to exhibit a high level of trust towards the EU, reaching 59%. They also exhibit a lack of trust in the UN which reaches 57%.
On a personal level, Cypriot citizens have the same concerns as other European citizen – 54% consider inflation and 35% the economic situation to be their most important personal problem. The main financial priorities for Cypriot citizens are paying the bills, 67%, living as well as they can on their current income, 47% and paying off debts, 46%.
A total of 55% do not expect changes to their personal situation within the next 12 months.
The two main concerns of Cypriot citizens are crime, 41% and inflation, 31%, while the economic situation in general and unemployment are the main concern for 30% and 29% of citizens respectively.
As far as immigration is concerned, the Eurobarometer indicated that despite the acknowledgement by 57% of Cypriots that immigrants are needed to work in certain sectors of the economy, 82% say the presence of people from other ethnic groups is a cause of insecurity. At the same time 90% believe the presence of these people increases unemployment in Cyprus.
According to Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, Androula Kaminara, Cyprus is the third country in the EU which exhibits lack of trust in accepting immigrants, with Malta first and second Greece. These countries are the ones receiving the most immigrants.
Kaminara said that that on life satisfaction, in the southern government controlled areas, the people are very satisfied with 85%, but the equivalent percent in the Turkish occupied north is 53% and it remained below that of the EU average is %77. Turkish Cypriots however, exhibit a sense of optimism regarding expectations from the future which is higher than the EU 27 average.
On the economic situation, she said, in the government controlled areas 58% said it was good while 40% said it was bad, 50% of Turkish Cypriots said it was good and 49 % said it was bad, with an EU average of good only 20%. So in Cyprus, both communities consider the economy much better than the EU average, the survey showed.
The survey also indicated that Turkish Cypriots believe the most significant challenges they are facing are the economic situation and unemployment with the Cyprus problem ranking third at 27%. A total of 68% believe it is hard to find employment even with high qualifications.
At the same time, 50% believe that the economy of the Turkish Cypriots is in good condition and 67% believe that the economy was affected by the global economic crisis.
In the Turkish Cypriot community, 35% say they trust the EU, noting a 12% drop in the past 12 months. A total of 57% of Turkish Cypriots believe that full implementation of the acquis communautaire would be beneficial for their community and 45% believe that EU membership would be good and 59% support the Euro.
Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third.
