Some 65% of Cypriot small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) describe the process of hiring workers from third countries — non-EU countries — as difficult, according to the results of Flash Eurobarometer 571 published by the European Commission on Monday. With the corresponding EU-wide figure, also referring to SMEs that have attempted to hire third-country nationals, standing at 54%, the survey highlights barriers rooted primarily in complex and lengthy administrative procedures.