Eurobarometer: Cypriots Lack Trust in NATO and Their Government

The European Commission has released the results of the autumn 2024 Eurobarometer survey conducted in Cyprus. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots shared their views on NATO, the European Union, and their government.

The survey, which took place between October and November 2024, involved a total of 1,003 participants from both sides of the island: 501 Greek Cypriots and 502 Turkish Cypriots.

According to the survey results, 77% of Greek Cypriots and 75% of Turkish Cypriots stated that they do not trust NATO, while 25% of Greek Cypriots and 24% of Turkish Cypriots said they trust the United Nations.

These trust levels are among the lowest in EU countries. According to Haravgi newspaper, the primary reason for the low trust in the UN is likely frustration due to the ongoing failure to resolve the Cyprus issue.

Trust in the EU stands at 37% among Greek Cypriots and 43% among Turkish Cypriots.

The survey also found that Turkish citizens have a positive outlook on the EU: 58% believe that Turkey’s EU membership would benefit the country.

Additionally, 63% of Turkish Cypriots and 64% of Greek Cypriots stated that the situation in their region is poor, while 72% and 63% respectively said the economy is in bad shape. Moreover, 60% of Greek Cypriots and 40% of Turkish Cypriots described the situation in their own country as bad. Most respondents expressed concerns that the situation would worsen over the next 12 months.

Furthermore, according to the autumn Eurobarometer, nearly three-quarters of Greek Cypriots tend not to trust their government or parliament. Compared to the spring survey, distrust in government institutions in Cyprus has increased by three percentage points.