By Thea Pieridou
Press Officer of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus
· 91% of citizens in Cyprus (68% at European level) want the EU’s role to be strengthened in protecting them from global crises and security risks.
· Nine out of ten EU citizens call on the member states to jointly tackle current global challenges, with an even higher result in Cyprus (95%).
· A large majority (77% EU average, 85% in Cyprus) believe that the EU needs more tools to defend its position in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
· 91% of citizens in Cyprus (62% at European level) want to see the European Parliament play a more significant role.
· In order to strengthen its position in the world, the EU should focus on defense and security, according to European citizens (37% EU, 46% Cyprus).
· To invest in what matters, 78% of citizens believe that the EU should finance more initiatives jointly (87% in Cyprus), while 91% (94% in Cyprus) state that the European Parliament should have the information and means necessary to scrutinize EU spending.
The latest Eurobarometer survey of the European Parliament shows that citizens have high expectations from the EU and its budget for the period after 2027.
Amid geopolitical uncertainty, the majority of Europeans believe that the EU must play a greater role in protecting its citizens from global crises and security risks (68%). The percentage is higher in Cyprus and is close to unanimity (91%). At the same time, nine out of ten EU citizens call for greater unity among member states (95% in Cyprus), while more than three out of four (77%) believe that the EU needs more means to address current global challenges (85% in Cyprus).
Citizens’ priorities reflect concern about the political and economic situation
According to survey respondents, the EU should focus on defense and security (37%), as well as on competitiveness, economy, and industry (32%) in order to strengthen its position in the world and adapt to the current political and economic context. In Cyprus, respondents prioritize defense and security (46%), with education and research in second place (33%).
As for the issues on which the European Parliament should place particular emphasis, citizens mention inflation, high prices, and the cost of living (41%), defense and security (34%), and combating poverty and social exclusion (31%). In Cyprus, combating poverty and social exclusion comes first (42%), followed by inflation and high prices (39%), while 36% point to both support for the economy and job creation, as well as greater support for public health. The economic situation continues to be a major issue for many Europeans. The control of inflation and the cost of living was already an important issue for citizens in the last European elections, as shown by the Eurobarometer post-election survey.
Joint financing for joint projects
To invest in what matters, nearly eight out of ten Europeans believe that more projects should be jointly financed by the EU rather than by individual member states (78%). The corresponding percentage for Cyprus is 87%.
Transparency as a priority
91% of citizens (94% in Cyprus) believe that the European Parliament should have all the necessary information and means to effectively monitor EU spending. In addition, 85% of Europeans — and more than 50% in every EU country — agree that funds should only be granted to member states on the condition that they respect the rule of law and democratic principles. In Cyprus, 91% of respondents agree with this position.
On the matter, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, stated: “European citizens want Europe to focus on security and the economy. They look to the EU for stability and expect a strong and united European voice in today’s uncertain world. Our priorities and the EU’s next long-term budget must therefore enable the EU to successfully manage the new geopolitical reality. Parliament has received the message, and now we must back up our words with action, invest in what matters, and remain consistent with our commitments to citizens.”
A country’s participation in the EU affects citizens’ lives
Almost three in four respondents (72%) state that EU actions have an impact on their daily lives, with half of them considering this impact “positive,” 31% “neither particularly positive nor particularly negative,” and 18% “negative.” In Cyprus, 86% of respondents state that EU actions impact their daily lives, with 36% considering this impact “positive,” 44% “neither positive nor negative,” and 20% “negative.”
At the same time, the majority of Europeans believe that the EU provides stability to its member states. Specifically, 73% of European citizens (71% in Cyprus) state that their country benefits from its participation in the EU for the following reasons: the EU contributes to the protection of peace and the strengthening of security (37%), improves cooperation between member states (36%), and contributes to their economic development (29%).
In Cyprus, respondents emphasize the protection of peace and the strengthening of security (39%). This is followed by contribution to the country’s economic development and the fact that the EU creates new job opportunities for the Cypriot people (33% each).
You can see the full survey results here.
Related information
The European Parliament’s Spring 2025 Eurobarometer survey was conducted by the research company Verian between 5 and 29 May 2025 in the 27 EU member states. Interviews with participants were conducted mainly face-to-face, while in some member states (Denmark, Malta, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden) online interviews were also conducted. In total, 26,410 interviews were carried out, of which 501 were in Cyprus. The “EU-level percentages” mentioned have been weighted according to the population of each country.
