Some believe that the Maltese are pessimists, complain about anything under the sun and traditionally see the glass half-empty, but judging by the way they responded to questions for the Eurobarometer survey last October, made public last month, it seems that there might be a change in this trend.
Of course, considering that the survey questions were put to them four months ago – that is before the budget, before the failure of the social pact negotiations and before the more recent difficulties they had such as the gas shortage – they might respond very differently if another survey had to be held today.
But, let us put aside the more recent issues and concentrate on the outcome of the Eurobarometer survey. The large majority of the Maltese believe that they will be able to maintain their current standard of living or even improve it in the next few years.
They believe that they have the ability to overcome the challenges presented by the economic restructuring of the country.
The share of respondents who think that Malta’s EU membership is a positive development continued to drop from the peak reached in autumn 2003, which was just after the referendum and when there were high expectations as Malta prepared to join the EU the following May.
People perhaps expected that, as from 1 May 2004, all of Malta’s problems would have been solved. It is not the case. One year is not enough to gauge Malta’s progress in this sense; we must let a few years go by to make a judgement. EU membership is a long-term investment.
On this matter, we must all hope that the current impasse that exists with the EU over Malta’s Objective One status is resolved in the best way possible – that is with Malta getting the maximum benefits because, after all, we are still far away from reaching the long-standing European counterparts.
It would be a sad day for Malta if the Maltese government is unable to persuade the EU that we are still lagging behind, and that we should get all the help we could get. Malta’s GDP has risen over the 75 per cent EU average threshold not because the Maltese economy has done better than in the past, but because the average was lowered after the inclusion of 10 new member states.
Countries that joined the EU before Malta benefited from Objective One status for many years, during which they were given the support they required over a long period of time. It would be a big blow for Malta if it were to lose this privilege after a few years.
Another result from the survey is that the Maltese performed well when they were asked questions about basic facts regarding the EU. Compared to other countries, the Maltese showed great knowledge about the workings of the EU and how the country stands to benefit.
That the Maltese know a lot about the EU can be interpreted in two different ways. On the positive side, it means that we take an interest in our country; on the other hand, it also shows that we are a highly-politicised nation.
Support for the EU Constitution, according to the survey, fell to 56 per cent 70 per cent in the spring of 2003. Again, the 2003 survey was held at a time when Malta was holding the EU referendum and the election, so it was bound to have been higher that time than it was last October.
This, unfortunately, is another political issue that is still to be discussed, largely because the Malta Labour Party has not taken a stand on the matter. It is known that the debate on the EU Constitution will be held before Parliament rises for the summer recess. Hopefully, it will not be another issue that brings division.