Survey indicates strong pro-EU conviction amongst Maltese

As doubts are being raised about the EU’s future following the results of the Brexit referendum, a survey has indicated strong pro-EU sentiment amongst Maltese citizens.

Indeed, 93% of Maltese respondents to a Eurobarometer survey agreed with the statement “what beings the citizens of different EU member states together is more important than what separates them”, a higher percentage than in any other EU country.

The survey was carried out in April, before the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. 

Its results show relative satisfaction amongst Maltese citizens with current EU action across the board – including unemployment, fighting tax fraud, environmental protection, health, and foreign policy. However, they also agreed that the EU should take more action on most sectors.

Only 42% of Maltese said that the EU is not doing enough to fight unemployment, the lowest rate in Europe, but 79% said that it could intervene more to create jobs.

47% said that EU action against tax fraud is insufficient, again the lowest rate in Europe, while 80% said EU can intervene more to clamp down on tax fradusters – the fifth highest rate in Europe.

41% disagreed with the EU’s current defence and security policies, the fourth lowest rate in Europe, while 74% said that the EU can do more, the fourth highest rate. 

Only 26% of Maltese think that the EU’s health and social security policies are insufficient, the lowest rate in Europe, with 69% saying that the EU can intervene more.

The EU’s economic policy is only deemed insufficient by 26% of local respondents, the second lowest in the union, with 62% stating that the EU can step up its game.

On environmental protection, 33% of Maltese think that current EU action is insufficient, the second lowest in Europe, while 72% believe that the EU can intervene more.

Only 23% of Maltese think that the EU’s agriculture policy is insufficient (the second lowest rate), while 22% say that its equal gender policies are inadequate (the third lowest rate). 61% and 59% think that the EU could intervene more in agriculture and gender equality policies respectively.

The trend breaks slightly where migration is concerned – with 64% stating that the EU is not doing enough (close to the EU average of 66%) but 87% then insisting that it could do more, the second highest rate in Europe behind Cyprus.

The survey also indicates that the Maltese are the most positive populace about the EU’s ability to fight terrorism. 34% of respondents said that the terrorist threat can best be tackled at a European level, a higher percentage than in any other European country and just ahead of Hungary (33%), Slovenia and Luxembourg (both 32%). At the other end of the scale, only 14% of British and 17% of French respondents responded in such a manner.