Newsroom
A new Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament shows that Europeans are increasingly uneasy about global instability, with Cypriots expressing some of the strongest concerns across the EU, particularly on migration.
According to the poll, respondents in Cyprus rank uncontrolled migration flows as their most pressing worry, cited by 86%. High levels of concern were also recorded for armed conflicts (80%), natural disasters linked to climate change (80%), terrorism (77%), and cyberattacks (70%). Across the EU as a whole, the same issues dominate, though at lower levels: 72% mention conflicts near EU borders, 67% terrorism, 66% climate-related natural disasters, 66% cyberattacks from outside the EU, and 65% uncontrolled migration.
The survey also suggests growing pessimism about the broader global outlook. More than half of EU citizens (52%) say they feel pessimistic about the future of the world, while 39% feel pessimistic about the future of the European Union. In Cyprus, pessimism is even higher, reaching 58% for the world and 48% for the EU.
Despite this, most people remain personally optimistic. Around three-quarters of respondents say they feel hopeful about their own future and that of their family, 76% across the EU and 75% in Cyprus.
Concerns about digital threats and online information are also widespread. Disinformation worries 69% of EU citizens, while in Cyprus the figure climbs to 82%. Cypriots also report particularly high anxiety over AI-generated false content (84%), insufficient protection of personal data (82%), and hate speech (71%). Fear that freedom of expression could be threatened is shared by 67% in the EU and 73% in Cyprus.
Against this backdrop, the public is calling for a stronger and more unified European response. The survey found that 89% of EU citizens believe Member States should act more cohesively to tackle global challenges, with support rising to 95% in Cyprus. Similarly, 86% across the EU and 94% in Cyprus want the Union to have a stronger international role. A majority also believes the EU needs greater resources to respond effectively to global threats, 73% in the EU and 86% in Cyprus.
In Cyprus, expectations for EU involvement in citizen protection are especially high. While 66% of Europeans say the EU should play a larger role in safeguarding them, the figure in Cyprus reaches 90%.
When asked where the EU should focus in order to strengthen its influence worldwide, defence and security comes first both in Cyprus and across the Union. It is cited by 40% of EU respondents and 50% of Cypriots. In the EU overall, economic competitiveness and industry (32%) and energy independence (29%) follow. In Cyprus, the next most frequently mentioned priorities are education (37%) and demographic and migration-related challenges (28%).
Economic pressures remain a major domestic concern. Inflation, rising prices and the cost of living are viewed as the top issue for the European Parliament by 41% of EU citizens and 34% in Cyprus. The economy and job creation follow, but Cyprus reports higher concern than the EU average, at 43% compared to 35%. In Cyprus, public health (39%) and migration and asylum (39%) are also among the leading priorities. While most respondents believe their standard of living will remain steady over the next five years, 28% in the EU and 33% in Cyprus expect it to worsen.
Even with these anxieties, public sentiment toward the EU remains more positive than negative. Nearly half of EU citizens (49%) hold a positive view of the Union, compared with 17% who view it negatively. In Cyprus, 42% express a positive view and 18% a negative one. The European Parliament is also viewed positively by 38% of EU citizens and 30% of Cypriots.
Support for EU membership remains strong as well. The survey shows that 62% of respondents across the EU and 65% in Cyprus believe their country’s membership in the Union is a good thing, marking a notable increase.
The Eurobarometer survey was carried out in autumn 2025 across all 27 EU Member States, based on 26,453 interviews, including 501 conducted in Cyprus.
