SEVENTY-NINE per cent of young Cypriots believe there are too many foreigners on the island, a survey conducted by the European Commission has found.
The survey questioned 10,000 young people from the 15 Member States and the 13 candidate countries on social topics such as euthanasia, the death sentence, homosexual rights, sex before marriage (76 per cent of young Cypriots say yes), AIDS testing and foreigners on their home land.
Cypriots stood out in their attitudes to foreigners with almost eight out of 10 feeling swamped, compared to an average of just 17 per cent in other acceding countries, which admittedly host far fewer foreigners in relation to their respective populations. Only 25 per cent of young Cypriots felt foreigners and immigrants deserved equal rights as Cypriots whereas an average of 51 per cent of youths in other acceding countries believed foreigners must be treated as equals. The average number of young people in acceding countries happy with foreigners living in their country reached 45 per cent, while only eight per cent of young Cypriots were content to share their homeland with immigrants.
When it comes to AIDS testing, a massive 93 per cent of young Cypriots believe testing should be compulsory for all citizens in EU member states. The figure was only 66 per cent in other candidate countries, while in the current 15 member states only 61 per cent believe it should be compulsory.
As for sex, the survey found Cypriots were more liberal than their counterparts in other candidate countries, with 76 per cent backing sex before marriage compared to just 56 per cent in other candidates. However, that percentage was brought down by strong conservatism in Turkey, where only a quarter of young people think pre-marital sex is OK. In existing member states, the vote in favour of sex before marriage was 88 per cent.
Only 18 per cent of young Cypriots backed the death penalty, compared to 23 per cent in Turkey and an average 34 per cent in candidate countries.
Thirty-six per cent of young Cypriots felt couples on low incomes should not be allowed to have more than a certain number of children, compared to an average 32 per cent in the 13 candidates and 28 per cent in EU member states.
The controversial topic of euthanasia is opposed by most. Only 20 per cent of young Cypriots backed the practice, which is illegal across most of Europe; in contrast, 54 per cent of young people in EU member states think terminally ill patients should be allowed the right to die.
The issue of homosexuals and their right to marry and adopt children is becoming more acceptable in European countries with 59 per cent of young European backing the idea. Young Cypriots may need a little longer to get used to the idea of homosexuals walking down the aisle with only 34 per cent voting yes to homosexuals tying the knot.
