The Independent Social Support Agency, IFKS : Strategic Vision and Community Impact

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 19, 2025

Event Launch At The Presidential Mansion

Today, at an exclusive event held at the Presidential Mansion and attended by the President of the Republic, the Independent Social Support Agency (IFKS) outlined its comprehensive strategy and multifaceted goals. The announcement coincided with the opening of the application period for financial aid to students for the upcoming academic year.

Funding And Application Details

Applications for student support will commence on October 27 and remain open until November 17, 2025. This initiative is designed to secure equal educational opportunities, ensuring that no student is excluded from higher education due to socio-economic challenges.

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Commitment To Equal Opportunity And Transparency

Filippa Karsera Christodoulid, President of the Agency, emphasized the pivotal role of the IFKS in leveling the educational playing field. She noted that with the support of dedicated sponsors and partners, 1,098 students were able to pursue their studies last year. Karsera Christodoulid remarked, “Some students would not have been able to start, or would have had to abandon their studies, and others work in parallel – our intervention prevents that.”

Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability And Accountability

In her address, the President of the Agency also underscored the importance of transparency, noting that all applications, sponsor details, and eligibility criteria are available on the official website at socialsupport.gov.cy. She stressed that long-term financial sustainability is crucial to meeting the growing demand, affirming the Agency’s commitment to supporting every child’s dream with comprehensive resources, benefiting families and the wider community alike.

A Decade Of Service And Expanded Support

This year marks the tenth consecutive year of the Agency’s service. Looking ahead to the 2025-2026 period, the IFKS will extend its support by including three new student groups in its aid program. These groups comprise graduates from the Georgios Markou School for the Deaf, graduates from the School for the Blind, and individuals resettled in the areas of Kormakitis and Rizokarpasu.

Financial Oversight And Strategic Partnerships

General Accountant Andreas Antoniadis, who oversees the fiscal management of the Agency, also addressed the gathering. Since 2015, over 4,100 students have benefited from more than 5.8 million euros in aid. The support is provided in the form of tuition fee contributions or partial rent payments, directly benefitting academic institutions and landlords. The Agency collaborates with top-tier educational establishments both in Cyprus and internationally, ensuring that students have access to recognized and certified fields of study. In cases where additional support is necessary, institutions follow the Agency’s recommendations to implement further accommodations.

For further details on the Agency’s initiatives, please refer to the project presentation.

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Cypriots Report Growing Economic Concerns In New Eurobarometer Survey

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

May 11, 2026

Eurobarometer Survey Reveals Stark Economic Outlook

A comprehensive Eurobarometer survey conducted between March 12 and April 1, 2026, has revealed significant economic and institutional challenges in Cyprus ahead of Europe Day. The study, which included 506 interviews in Cyprus as part of a pan-European sample of 26,415 citizens, underscores a pronounced economic pessimism and declining trust in national and European institutions.

Economic Sentiment And Future Projections

More than half of Cypriots, or 53%, described the country’s economic situation negatively, while 46% expressed a positive assessment. Across the European Union, by comparison, 60% of respondents viewed their national economies positively and 38% negatively.

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Economic pessimism also increased sharply compared with autumn 2025. Around 51% of Cypriots said they expect the economy to deteriorate further over the next year, marking a 23 percentage point increase from the previous survey period. Only 11% anticipated economic improvement.

Despite broader concerns about the economy, perceptions of personal financial conditions remained relatively stable. Around 75% of respondents described their household financial situation positively, while 60% said they expect employment conditions to remain stable over the coming year.

Main Challenges And Priorities For Action

The cost of living remained the leading concern among Cypriot respondents at 36%, followed by developments in the Middle East at 30%, the national economy at 24%, migration at 23% and housing at 21%. Across the EU more broadly, respondents prioritised instability in the Middle East, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and migration.

Regarding policy priorities, Cypriots said EU spending should focus primarily on employment, social policy and healthcare, alongside education, youth initiatives, housing and security.

Institutional Distrust And European Identity

Trust in national institutions remained low throughout the survey. Only 31% of respondents said they trust the government, while confidence in parliament stood at 22%. At the same time, 74% expressed distrust toward parliament.

Views toward the European Union also remained divided. Around 39% of Cypriots said they trust the EU, compared with 54% who said they do not, although this represented a slight improvement from autumn 2025.

The survey additionally pointed to a stronger sense of local and national identity than European identity. While 92% said they feel connected to their local communities and 95% to Cyprus itself, only 52% reported feeling attached to the EU and 45% identified with Europe more broadly.

Digital Security And Divergent Foreign Policy Views

Concerns about digital safety also remained elevated, with 53% of respondents saying major online platforms are not doing enough to remove illegal or harmful content. Another 45% said existing user protection measures remain insufficient.

The survey also revealed notable differences between Cypriot and wider EU attitudes toward the war in Ukraine. Although 77% supported accepting refugees and 70% backed humanitarian and economic assistance, support for sanctions against Russia stood at only 30%, significantly below the EU average.

Support for military assistance to Kyiv remained particularly low at 18%, while only 41% of respondents supported Ukraine’s future EU membership compared with 56% across the bloc.

Conclusion

The findings reflect growing economic anxiety and continued institutional scepticism in Cyprus amid broader geopolitical uncertainty across Europe and the Middle East. At the same time, the survey showed that Cypriots remain highly focused on domestic economic stability, social policy and cost-of-living pressures as key priorities for the years ahead.

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