Standard Eurobarometer 84 - Malta National Report 2016

Standard Eurobarometer 84

National report

Public opinion in the European Union

Malta Autumn 2015 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication.

This report was produced for the European Commission’s Representation in Malta.

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission.

The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.

Standard Eurobarometer 84 – Wave EB84.3 – TNS opinion & social

Standard Eurobarometer 84

National report

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

MALTA

http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/PublicOpinion This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication.

This report was produced for the European Commission’s Representation in Malta.

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

2

I.

2

PRIORITIES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION 1

Jobs, Growth and Investments

2

2

Digital Single Market

3

3

Energy Union

3

4

Free Movement of Persons

3

5

Supporting the Euro

3

6

EU – US Trade

4

7

Migration

4

8

The EU as a Global Actor

4

9

Democratic Change

5

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

6

1

Level of Attachment

6

2

Citizens’ Rights

6

3

Interaction with other EU Citizens

7

4

European Values

7

II.

III. MEDIA USAGE

8

1

Trust in the Media and Institutions

8

2

Media Usage Habits

8

3

Sources of News and Information

9

1

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

INTRODUCTION The national report outlines the main findings of Wave 84 of the Standard Eurobarometer.

Fieldwork was conducted between the 7th and 17th November 2015. A total of 503 face – to – face interviews were conducted.

In 2015, the Maltese economy has continued to perform well with robust gross domestic product and employment growth. The economic performance may have had an impact on the responses of participants. There were Local Councils elections during 2015. The results confirmed a majority level of support for the party in government, the Labour Party, even if the main opposition party, the Nationalist Party, managed to reduce the gap when compared to the previous round of Local Council elections in the same localities.

The report covers a number of topics, namely the priorities of the European Commission, European citizenship and media usage.

I. PRIORITIES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

1 Jobs, Growth and Investments 85% of respondents judge the current situation of the national economy to be positive, up from 81% in 2014. Germany is the only country that registers a more positive result. A majority of respondents (53%) also expressed a positive judgement on the European economy. Significantly, those that expressed a negative judgement have gone down from 32% last year to 23% this year.

This contrasts sharply with the EU average, as across the EU 38% expressed a positive judgement on the European economy.

68% expressed a positive judgement of their personal job situation, against 11% who judge their personal job situation negatively. A positive opinion was also expressed about the financial situation of the respondents’ household. 86% expressed a positive judgement while 11% expressed a negative judgement. 74% spoke favourably about the employment situation is Malta, compared to an EU average of 30%.

2

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

Other questions on this priority area covered the role of private sector investment. Whereas 62% of respondents across the EU believe that the private sector is better placed than the public sector to create jobs, the percentage in Malta is 82%. Moreover 77% of respondents in Malta believe that public money should be used to stimulate private sector investment at EU level. 82% of respondents claim to be in favour of tougher rules on tax avoidance and tax havens.

2 Digital Single Market Another priority of the European Commission is the digital single market. 59% of respondents in Malta claim to be in favour of digital single market within the European Union. This is higher than the EU average.

3 Energy Union 84% of respondents in Malta are in favour of a common energy policy among EU member states.

Respondents were asked what should be the three top priorities for a European energy union. The priority that received most mentions was protecting the environment (mentioned by 55% of respondents), followed by guaranteeing reasonable energy prices for consumers (mentioned by 44%) and developing renewal energy (mentioned by 37% of respondents). These opinions are similar to those expressed on average across the EU. Respondents in Malta are also quite supportive of the European Commission’s targets for 2020 with regard to energy. Nearly six of ten respondents (57%) believe that the target to reduce EU gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020 compares to 1990, to be about right. Two thirds of respondents believe that the target to increase the share of renewable energy by 20% by 2020 also to be about right. 68% of respondents believe that the target to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 to be about right. Generally respondents in Malta are more positive about these targets than the EU average.

4 Free Movement of Persons The right for EU citizens to live in every member state of the Union is judged to be a good thing by 73% of respondents. Equally, 73% believe that the right for EU citizens to work in every member state of the EU is a good thing.

46% of respondents claimed that the free movement of persons, goods and services to be either most positive result or the second most positive result of the EU. Generally respondents across the EU view the free movement of persons, goods and services more positively than respondents in Malta.

5 Supporting the Euro Nearly three-fourths of respondents (74%) are in favour of a European economic and monetary union with one single currency – the Euro. This level of support is higher then the EU average but slightly lower than it was in 2014.

3

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

6 EU – US Trade There has been a marked increase since last year in the percentage of respondents who have expressed an opinion against a free trade and investment agreement between the EU and the United States. However, this has only reached 14%, as there are still 71% of respondents in Malta who are in favour of such an agreement. In the EU as a whole, the percentage of those in favour of such an agreement is 53%, well below the level in Malta.

7 Migration Although there is a significant majority of respondents who favour a common European policy on migration in both Malta and the EU as a whole, the percentage of those in favour is now less than it was in 2014. In addition to this the level of those who claim that the immigration of people from outside the EU evokes a negative feeling is high at 73% in Malta and 59% across the whole of the EU. Nearly all respondents in Malta believe that additional measures should be taken to fight illegal immigration from outside the European Union.

Immigration from countries within the EU is looked at more positively. In fact 57% of respondents in Malta claimed that this evokes a positive feeling, up from 49% last year.

8 The EU as a Global Actor A common foreign policy for the 28 member states of the EU is certainly not something that respondents in Malta are keen about. In fact 53% of respondents expressed an opinion in favour, while 31% expressed an opinion against and 17% did not express an opinion. On the other hand respondents in Malta are more favourable towards a common defence and security policy among EU member states. 76% of respondents have expressed an opinion in this sense.

4

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84

National report

Autumn 2015

Malta

The creation of a EU army also has a element of support among the majority of respondents in Malta. 61% of respondents in Malta have expressed an opinion in favour of such an initiative compared to an EU average of 53%. 31% of respondents have expressed an opinion against this initiative.

In relation to further enlargement of the European Union, an average of 51% of respondents across the EU have expressed an opinion against such enlargement. This contrasts sharply with the Malta result as 56% of respondents in Malta have expressed an opinion in favour of enlargement.

Respondents in Malta generally see the EU as a global actor more than respondents in other member states. Whereas across the EU, 68% of respondents believe that the EU’s voice counts in the world, in Malta that percentage rises to 83%. Sweden is the only other country that expressed a percentage higher than Malta.

9 Democratic Change Respondents in Malta are very positive about the way democracy works in Malta and in the European Union. Whereas across the EU opinions tend to be fairly split, in Malta there is a very definite favourable opinion on this matter. 70% of respondents in Malta claimed to be either very satisfied or fairly satisfied about the way democracy works in the country. The data for the whole of the EU shows that 9% are very satisfied and 43% are fairly satisfied with the way democracy works in their country. Only Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden have expressed a level of satisfaction higher than that of Malta.

We have a similar situation with regard to the way democracy works in the EU. 64% of respondents in Malta claimed to be either very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU, compared to an average of 43% across the whole of the EU. It is important to note that 45% of respondents across the EU claimed to be not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU. Poland is the only member state that has a more positive opinion than Malta on this matter.

Table 1 below provides information on the percentage of respondents who stated that they are in favour of selected initiatives.

Malta

European Union

A European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro

74%

56%

A common foreign policy for the 28 member states of the EU

53%

63%

Further enlargement of the EU to include other countries in future years

56%

38%

A common defence and security policy among EU member states

76%

72%

A free trade and investment agreement between the EU and USA

71%

53%

A common European policy on migration

75%

68%

A common energy policy among EU member states

84%

70%

A digital single market within the EU

59%

53%

Table 1 : Percentage of respondents who stated that they are in favour of selected initiatives

5

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

II. EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP The European Citizenship Initiative was introduced with the Treaty of Lisbon aimed at enhancing direct democracy in the European Union. Respondents were asked a number of questions that provide information on their opinions regarding a number of aspects that contribute to strengthening European citizenship. The results indicate a stronger attachment to the EU and a stronger level of interaction with other EU citizens among respondents in Malta than it is on average across the EU.

1 Level of Attachment One set of questions referred to the identity and attachment of respondents. Across the whole of the EU, 89% of respondents claimed to feel very attached or fairly attached to their own city, town or village. In Malta 81% of respondents answered in this manner. Attachment to one’s country was higher as 92% of respondents in the EU claimed that they feel very attached or fairly attached to their own country. The relative percentage for Malta was 95%. Attachment to the EU is markedly less, as 49% of the EU28 claimed to be very attached or fairly attached to the EU, while in Malta 59% answered in this manner. Latvia, Luxembourg and Romania showed a higher level of attachment than Malta t the EU. Attachment to Europe is higher than attachment to the EU as it stood at 59% for the whole of the EU and 69% for respondents in Malta.

One third of respondents in Malta (33%) view themselves as uniquely Maltese, while 64% view themselves as Maltese and European. This level of attachment is the highest among all the EU member states.

2 Citizens’ Rights 82% of respondents in Malta believe that they are citizens of the EU compared to 64% across the whole of the EU. A majority of respondents in Malta also believe that they know what their rights are as citizens of the EU, compared to 49% of the EU. 82% of respondents in Malta stated that they would like to know more about their rights, compared to 65% in the EU28.

6

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

Respondents were asked what they consider to be the most positive result of the EU. In Malta the aspect that received most mentions was peace among the member states of the EU. This was mentioned by 29% of respondents. The aspect that received the next highest number of mentions was the free movement of people, goods and services within the EU, mentioned by 20% of respondents. This reflects the result achieved across the EU. It is worth noting that 14% of respondents in Malta (compared to 8% across the whole of the EU) mentioned the euro. This is the highest number of mentions among those states that have adopted the euro.

3 Interaction with other EU Citizens Interaction with other citizens of the EU was another aspect examined. This aspect was examined through a number of questions in one’s behaviour. 47% of respondents in Malta stated that they visited another EU country in the last twelve months, compared to 43% across the whole of the EU. Thus a majority of respondents have not ventured outside their country. 73% of respondents in Malta stated that they have read a book, a newspaper or a magazine in a language other than their own mother tongue in the last twelve months. The reference in this case is very likely to be the English language.

Across the whole of the EU the figure stands at 28%. Even the level of socialisation with other EU citizens by respondents in Malta is higher than that across the EU. 73% of respondents on Malta stated that they have engaged in such socialisation in the last twelve months, compared to 51% in the EU. 93% of respondents in Malta stated that they have watched TV programmes in a language other than their mother tongue, while 56% of respondents claimed that they have used the internet to purchase a product or service from another EU member state.

An analysis of all this data led to the compilation of an index of openness to other EU countries. The index for Malta shows that among 50% of respondents it is high, among 31% of respondents it is medium and among 19% of respondents it is low. Only Luxembourg has a higher index of openness than Malta.

98% of respondents in Malta believe that it is very useful or fairly useful to know other languages than their own mother tongue. The relative figure for the whole of the EU28 is 86%. It is interesting to note that whereas respondents in Malta relate the importance of knowing other languages, mainly to leisure activities, across the EU28, knowledge of languages is mainly related to work.

96% of respondents in Malta stated that they either totally agree or tend to agree that everyone in the EU should be able to speak at least one other language in addition to their mother tongue.

4 European Values Respondents were asked to state which values represent best the EU. Among respondents in Malta, the three values that received the highest number of mentions were human rights (39%), democracy (38%) and peace (37%). These results generally reflect the trend across the EU. Respondents were then asked to state which are the three values that were most important to them personally. The three values that received the highest number of mentions in Malta were peace (55%), human rights (43%) and respect for human life (38%). Again these results generally reflect the trend across the EU. 70% of respondents in Malta believe that in terms of shared values, EU member states are either very close or fairly close to each other. This positive opinion is not fully shared across the EU, as on average 50% of respondents believe that EU member states are either very close or fairly close in terms of shared values.

7

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

III. MEDIA USAGE Another set of questions was asked about media usage. These covered a range of aspects including trust in the media, media usage habits and sources of news and information.

1 Trust in the Media and Institutions Respondents were asked whether they tend to trust or not a number of institutions. Respondents displayed a low level of trust in various media as shown in Table 2 below. The table provides information on the level of trust enjoyed by media and institutions in Malta and the average level of trust in the EU. Malta

European Union

The written press

32%

43%

Radio

38%

55%

Television

47%

48%

The internet

32%

35%

Online social networks

20%

20%

Political parties

22%

15%

Regional or Local Public Authorities

39%

42%

The Maltese Government

51%

27%

The Maltese Parliament

47%

28%

The European Union

46%

32%

The United Nations

48%

40%

Table 2 : Percentage of Respondents tending to trust Media and Institutions

2 Media Usage Habits Respondents were asked about their usage habits of traditional media and social media. Television is by far the most widely used medium both in Malta and across the EU28. 80% of respondents in Malta claimed to watch TV on a television set everyday or almost everyday, compared to 82% across the EU. The next most widely used medium is the internet with 63% of respondents in Malta claiming to listen to it daily or almost everyday, compared to 59% in the whole of the EU. TV and internet are followed by the radio which also has a high level of usage at 56% in Malta and 50% in the whole of the EU, online social networks and the written press. Watching TV via the internet still has a very low level of usage.

An analysis of this data has led to the compilation of a media use index. Among respondents in Malta, 51% have a very high media use index, compared to 46% across the EU. 25% of respondents in Malta are assessed to have a high media use index compared to 34% across the EU.

8

Public opinion in the European Union Standard Eurobarometer 84 Autumn 2015

National report Malta

3 Sources of News and Information The television by far represents the main source of news on national political matters. This more so in the EU than in Malta. In fact 48% of respondents in Malta stated that the TV is their first source of news in national political matters, compared to 58% across the EU. TV is followed by websites and online social networks in Malta, whereas in the EU it is websites and the written press. One notes the very low percentage achieved by the written press as the first source of news on national matters.

The radio is the medium that received the most number of mentions in Malta as the second most important source of news on national matters. This reflects the result that is achieved across the EU. Analysing the two results together, TV is the main source of news followed by radio, websites, online social networks and the written press.

The same picture emerges in relation to the main source of information in European political matters. Once again, the average across the whole of the EU shows a much lower level of importance for online social networks and a much higher level of importance for the written press.

Respondents were asked whether the various media talk too much, about the right amount or too little about the EU. For all media the answer that received most mentions was about the right amount. Moreover most respondents believe that the various media present the EU in an objective manner.

Another aspect covered was where respondents look for information regarding the EU, its policies and institutions. 27% of respondents in Malta stated that they never look for such information compared to an average of 21% in the EU. Of those that do seek such information, television is the main source in Malta, as it is in the rest of the EU. TV is followed by information websites, institutional websites and the radio. When comparing this trend to the rest of the EU, one notes once more that in the rest of the EU, daily newspapers are a more important source than they are in Malta. Another important source in the EU, which is not so important in Malta, is discussions with relatives, friends and colleagues.

A specific set of questions was asked about online social networks. The results show that, although they are considered as an important medium to keep oneself abreast of political affairs and to have one’s say on such matters, information on political affairs is not to be trusted. This view is prevalent both in Malta and in the EU, however it is more markedly so in Malta.

9