Trust in institutions and the media is lower in Cyprus compared to the EU average, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey released on Thursday.

The survey, conducted between October and November this year, also revealed that Cypriots are less satisfied with their lives than the average European. While 86 per cent of Europeans reported being satisfied with their lives, the figure for Cyprus stood at 79 per cent.

Migration emerged as the most pressing issue for people in Cyprus, with 50 per cent of respondents citing it as a key concern – far higher than the EU average of 20 per cent.

Other important challenges faced by Cyprus and the EU include rising prices, inflation and the cost of living, the war in Ukraine and the economic situation, with the results in Cyprus significantly diverging from the European average.

The survey explored citizens’ trust in the EU, national institutions, and the media, as well as their views on disinformation, the war in Ukraine, and the direction of their country and the EU.

According to the results, 60 per cent of Cypriots believe local media does not provide trustworthy information, slightly better than the EU average of 69 per cent. However, 76 per cent of Cypriot respondents said they often encounter news they believe is fake or distorts reality, compared to 70 per cent across the EU.

Asked how much trust they have in institutions, 75 per cent of Cypriots said they tend not to trust parliament, and 74 per cent said the same for the government. The figure was at 56 per cent for EU institutions.

The Eurobarometer survey assesses the views of EU citizens living in the 27 EU Member States, as well as citizens living in the current candidate and potential candidate countries (except Ukraine) and the United Kingdom.

Overall, 51 per cent of Europeans expressed trust in EU institutions, marking the highest level since 2007.

Nearly nine Europeans in ten (87 per cent) agree with providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war in Ukraine. A total of 71 per cent of EU citizens support economic sanctions on the Russian government, companies, and individuals and 68 per cent agree with providing financial support to Ukraine.