64% of Maltese happy with the way democracy works in Malta

64% of the Maltese feel very satisfied or fairly satisfied on the way democracy works in the country, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.

This is higher than the EU average of 53%.

On the other hand, 57% of respondents claimed to be very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU. The level of dissatisfaction in Malta with the way democracy works in the EU, is the second lowest, with only Poland expressing a lower level of dissatisfaction.

The opinion across the EU on the way democracy works in the EU is evenly split. 45% of respondents claimed to be very satisfied or fairly satisfied, and another 45% claimed to be not so satisfied or not at all satisfied.

With regards to two related questions whether respondents believe that their voice counts in their country and in the EU, 64% of respondents in Malta claimed that their voice counts in the country, while the percentage across the whole of the EU stands at 57%.

In relation to the EU, 49% of local respondents believe that their voice counts in the EU, compared to 40% in the whole of the EU.

The survey, which was carried out in November, covers a variety of topics which includes both personal and economic issues as well as the perception of respondents regarding the priorities of the European Commission.

This wave of the Eurobarometer has shown once more that respondents in Malta are very positive about the EU and what the EU stands for. Moreover, the strong performance of the economy encourages Maltese citizens to look more positively at their personal situation. There is evidently a concern about the environment in relation to energy issues as well as migration from outside the EU.

Personal and Economic Situation

94% of respondents in Malta are generally satisfied with the life they lead and 41% of respondents in Malta expect their life to get better in the next twelve months. Just over two out of three respondents (67%) claimed their personal job situation to be positive. In terms of expectations, 24% of respondents in Malta expect their personal job situation to get better in the next twelve months. The financial situation of the household has been described as good by 82% of respondents in Malta and expectations for the future are more positive than negative.

EC priorities

Maltese respondents are generally amongst the highest supporters of the priorities of the European Commission and the initiatives taken. A case in point is the support to the Common Energy Policy where 80% of the Maltese respondents expressed support, compared to 73% EU Average. The Digital Single Market is another priority with wide support at 68% compared to 59% EU Average

In the Eurobarometer there is a continuation in the downward trend in the level of support of the European Policy on migration where 70% of respondents declared themselves to be in favour when it stood at 75% in 2015. The current level of support in Malta is similar to that across the whole of the EU, where it stands at 69%.