Cyprus: A Pro-European Attitude, but Scepticism Still Holds Strong

Abstract

Euroscepticism is on demise in Cyprus. The Spring Eurobarometer in 2019 shows that Cypriots’ trust in the European Union (EU) has increased by 13 percent. It is now the majority view with 54 percent; this is 10 percent above the EU average. Public perceptions however are but one facet of the political spectrum and equal attention must be paid to the party system. Currently, the Government, which is led by the Democratic Rally (DISY), has a pro-Europeanist approach. In addition to DISY, the Parliament includes seven opposition parties, the leftist AKEL, the centrist DIKO, the social-democratic EDEK, Solidarity (Allilegi), Citizen’s Alliance (Symmaxia Politon), the Ecologists (Oikologoi), and the ethnonationalist ELAM. When party positions are put together, one may discern a pro-European attitude to prevail, but pockets of scepticism still hold strong.