While 82 per cent of the Dutch support same-sex marriage, where it has been recognised since 2001 – the highest level of support in Europe – just 11 per cent of Romanians do.

The Eurobarometer poll by TNS also found that 69 per cent of those in the Netherlands support the right of gay people to adopt, with the lowest levels of support in Poland and Malta where seven per cent do.

Writing in Gay City, Andy Humm boldly suggested that Maltese, along with Poles and Romanians, should visit Amsterdam.

High rates of support for same-sex marriage were also found in Sweden (71 per cent) and Denmark (69), where civil unions have long been recognised, and in Belgium (62) and Spain (56), the other two European nations where marriage is open to gay and lesbian couples.

In most of Eastern Europe, as well as in Greece and Cyprus, less than 20 per cent of the populace supports marriage rights for gay people, although 52 per cent of those in the Czech Republic, which has just enacted a limited civil partnership law, do.

In the United Kingdom, which now has one year of its civil partnership law under its belt, 46 per cent are for same-sex marriage and 33 per cent for adoption rights for gays. In Ireland, which is considering a UK-style law on partnerships, 41 per cent would let gay couples marry and 30 per cent would let them adopt.

And in Italy, which is also nearing completion on partnership legislation, just 31 per cent approve of marriage rights for gays.