Brexit effect: 65% of Maltese say they would vote to stay in the EU

The latest EU public opinion survey conducted in September 2018, has revealed a clear and growing appreciation for EU membership, reaching a record high of 68%. 

Additionally, 65% of Maltese respondents said they would vote to stay within the EU if a Brexit-style referendum was held. 

The latest Eurobarometer found more people than ever consider their country’s membership of the European Union to be a good thing (62%): the highest figure recorded in the last 25 years. 

Maltese people alone are 69% positive.  

Malta was also second only to Ireland with 91% believing the country has benefitted. The EU average was 68% who felt their country had benefitted from EU membership – again the highest figure since 1983.  

READ MORE • MaltaToday Survey | Young people most trustful of EU, but least knowledgeable

Nearly all results measuring support for the EU now show a significant upturn following the UK referendum in 2016, suggesting growing concern across the continent at the impact that Brexit will have and a growing awareness, due to the difficult negotiations, of the benefits of being a ,ember of the EU. 

66% of European respondents would vote for their country to remain a member of the EU (a majority in all member states) and only 17% would contemplate leaving, with 17% undecided. 65% of Maltese people would vote to stay in the EU. 

The latest Eurobarometer also show a growing sense of satisfaction amongst Europeans in the democratic functioning of the EU (49%). The majority of Maltese 51%, feel that their voice counts in the EU, up two points since April.  

AParlemeter 2018 survey though is not all good news: half of respondents are not happy with the direction the EU is heading in, and while a majority of Maltese people is still satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU, but this percentage is down 8 points. 

Public opinion also seems quite stable in terms of expectations about the role of the EU in the future with 48% wanting the EU to play a more important role as opposed to 27% preferring less. 40% of Maltese have a positive image of the European Parliament. 

There is growing awareness of next year’s European elections, with 41% correctly identifying the date in May 2019 - a nine-point increase over a similar survey six months ago and seven points more than in June 2013. However 44% still could not say today when the elections will be taking place compared to 46% in June 2013. Maltese people show a higher than average awareness with 58% already knowing when the next elections will be held.  

With 51% of citizens declaring to be interested in the elections, citizens’ campaign priorities have evolved over the past six-month period. Immigration now tops the agenda (50%) followed by economy (47%) and youth unemployment (47%), whilst combatting terrorism moves down to fourth place with 44%. The top priority for Maltese people for the next European elections remains immigration. 76% have said this is their main concern, up 11 points from April.