The economic crisis has made Cypriots to worry more about the cost of living in Cyprus, their purchasing power, the economic situation of the country and the unemployment rate, according to the Autumn Eurobarometer 2009, which was presented today by the European Commission Representation in Nicosia.
The Eurobarometer also showed that the majority of the citizens (61%) find the economic situation of the Cyprus economy and the employment situation (58%) better than the EU average.
The Autumn 2009 Eurobarometer has indicated that people living under the control of the Republic of Cyprus (in the southern government controlled part of the country as opposed to the northern Turkish occupied areas) are satisfied with their lives (31% very satisfied and 50% fairly satisfied).
Less Cypriots describe the economic situation as good (45%), compared to Spring 2009 (58%), while 54% find it bad. However 45% is the sixth highest percentage recorded in the EU, where the average is 23%.
The survey has also shown that most Cypriots (62%) find that the cost of living in Cyprus is higher than the EU average, especially in relation to energy prices. A high percentage of Cypriots (65%) finds that their purchasing power has got worse in the past five years, making it the third highest percentage in the EU 27.
On a personal level, Cypriot citizens have the same concerns as other European citizen – 51% consider rising prices and 40% the economic situation to be their most important personal problems.
Cypriots and European citizens collectively set the same priorities as to the issues which should be emphasized by the society in order to face major global challenges. According to the survey, 66% of Cypriots set as their top priority social equality and solidarity, recording the highest percentage in the EU 27, while 63%, the second highest percentage in EU27, sets the protection of the environment as their priority.
The two main concerns of Cypriot citizens are the economic situation, 43%, and crime, 36%, while unemployment and rising prices are the main concern for 31% and 26% of citizens respectively.
The survey reveals a small drop in the level of trust in the Cyprus government since the Spring 2009 Eurobarometer survey. The trust of citizens towards the Cyprus government is reduced to 53%, compared to 56% and the corresponding figure for the House of Representatives is steady at 53%. However people continue to exhibit a high level of trust towards the EU, reaching 59%. The level of trust by Cypriots towards the Cyprus government, the House of Representatives and the European Union is by far higher than the European average.
Cypriots also exhibit a lack of trust in the UN, which reaches 60% compared to 57% in Spring 2009.
Just 19% of Cypriots trust national political parties and 75% do not. At the same time the absolute majority of Cypriots trust the press (51%, EU27 42%), radio (60%, EU27 58%) and television (59%, EU27 49%), while more Cypriots trust the internet than those who do not.
A similar survey conducted in the Turkish Cypriot community indicates continuous pessimism among Turkish Cypriots with regards to the economic situation it their community and the world.
The level of satisfaction from life among Turkish Cypriots (50%) is below the EU27 average of 78% and it is the lowest since the Standard Eurobarometer has been carried out in the community. The survey reveals that the level of life satisfaction among Turkish Cypriots is related to hopes to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Turkish Cypriots put the economic situation (51%) as well as unemployment (46%) as the most important issues they are facing. The Cyprus problem (22%) continues to lose importance among Turkish Cypriot perception of important issues.
Regarding the economic situation, 67% of the Turkish Cypriots consider it bad in their community and 72% believe that employment is bad. This marks a big increase from 51% in Spring 2009.
At the same time, 62% of Turkish Cypriots said that the implementation of the acquis in the Turkish Cypriot community would be beneficial.
Cyprus, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third. From 1st May 2004, the whole of the Republic of Cyprus territory constitutes part of the EU, but implementation of the acquis communautaire has been suspended in the northern Turkish occupied part of the country.
