EU membership positive: 84 pct of Maltese say

The Eurobarometer's latest poll, commissioned by the European Parliament in contrast with growing negative sentiments towards the EU, stated that 84 percent of Maltese believe membership in the EU is beneficial.

Furthermore 88 percent of Maltese believe that what brings EU citizens together is more important than what separates them.

Countries varied widely in their responses, from 74 percent in Ireland to only 31 percent in Greece. The poll however shows that the EU support indicator has on the whole remained quite stable since 2009.

Europeans felt that democracy and freedom are the key values that comprise the European identity, less so in relation to the euro and the eurozone.

However nearly one in two Europeans felt that would reinforce their sense of being a European citizen would be a harmonised social welfare system.

Whilst 68 percent of Maltese said they had heard about the European Parliament (EP) in the media, only 43 percent considered themselves informed about its activities.

Furthermore, a significant 69 percent of the Maltese would like to see the EP play a more important role.

On a less positive note Europeans feel that on a national level their voices count less and less, and they do not have a positive view of the future, both in the EU and in their own country.

However the figures are more positive in Malta with 35 percent having a positive image of the EP and 50 percent a neutral one. Endit