Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

Latest EU poll finds only a quarter have faith in UN

CYPRIOTS consider crime and increasing prices to be of greater concern to them than the national economy and unemployment, according to the latest results of an EU public opinion poll released yesterday.

The public opinion poll is the second wave of Eurobarometer studies carried out in Cyprus since EU accession in May 2004. The poll – which among other things explores citizens’ attitudes on their quality of life, trust in institutions, and contentment with the European Union – is conducted twice a year in 25 member states plus Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey.
The poll for Cyprus was conducted by the market research company Cymar between May 10 and June 7 and sampled attitudes, through questionnaires and interviews, of 505 Cyprus residents aged 15 and up, including a few non-national EU residents of Cyprus who could respond to questions in Greek and Turkish. The last Eurobarometer poll was conducted in the Fall of 2004.

The biggest concern for Cypriot citizens was crime, which 46 per cent voted as one of their greatest concerns, with inflation coming second at 36 per cent. These were also the main two worries for Cypriots last year, although the figures last year were five percentage points higher. The third biggest concern, at 21 per cent, was the economy.

Concerns over unemployment did rise considerably from the last poll, from 10 per cent to 17 per cent, although these numbers are still low compared to other EU nations. There was also an increase in concern over the medical healthcare system.

Cymar employee Eleni Marangou, who presented the findings at a news conference yesterday, said the economy and unemployment are considered the top problems in most EU nations. Marangou also said that only one in 10 Cypriot citizens felt work conditions would improve over the next year.

According to the poll, only two of every 10 citizens of the Cyprus Republic trust political parties. But the majority do trust the main national institutions: 60 per cent for the government, 64 per cent for the justice system and 54 per cent for the House of Representatives.
Only one in four Cyprus citizens, however, trust the United Nations. According to Marangou, this marks the lowest percentage of any member state.

Two out of 10 polled demonstrated their satisfaction with their life in the Republic of Cyprus, although most Cypriots feel that their quality of life over the next year will either stay the same (43 per cent) or worsen (16 per cent).

The same poll taken of 500 Turkish Cypriots showed them to be more optimistic in this respect than their counterparts to the south, with two thirds expecting life to improve over the next year.

Turkish Cypriots also differed from Greek Cypriots in that they felt unemployment was the greatest problem facing them, although studies showed that crime was an increasing problem for them.

As with the findings from Autumn 2004, only 40 per cent of those polled in the Republic considered Cyprus’ entry into the European Union a positive development. In this respect, Cyprus ties with the UK (also at 40 per cent) for the lowest proportion of citizens who believe that their country has benefited from entering the European Union.

Seventy-three per cent of citizens supported the idea of a European Constitution, although not even one in ten are aware of the Constitution’s provisions. This is not too much lower than the average proportion of EU citizens knowledgeable about the Constitution, which only stands at 13 per cent.
The European Constitution has recently proven far less popular in other member states, with French voters rejecting its adoption in a May referendum and Dutch voters rejecting it in early June.

The poll also aimed at determining the attitudes of youths towards the European Union.
As with the older crowd, only four in ten youths (aged 15-24) felt Cyprus benefited from EU accession. Marangou said that there were few differences between the younger (15-24) and older age groups.

Support for the European Union was significantly higher among youth who were in university.

[Piratis]

Only one in four Cyprus citizens, however, trust the United Nations. According to Marangou, this marks the lowest percentage of any member state.

Apart from the security council the UN today are run by the Americans. We saw their true face and thats why we rated them so low.

Only the rise of a new super power (china?) can bring balance back to the UN.

[cypezokyli]

Seventy-three per cent of citizens supported the idea of a European Constitution, although not even one in ten are aware of the Constitution’s provisions

how did we then form an opinion? hmmm

Marangou said that there were few differences between the younger (15-24) and older age groups.

the young are already old.

only two of every 10 citizens of the Cyprus Republic trust political parties

count me in as well

Only one in four Cyprus citizens, however, trust the United Nations. According to Marangou, this marks the lowest percentage of any member state.

and it is the only member state which expects its biggest problem to be solved through the united nations.