There is always room for improvement, but the latest Eurobarometer study, requested and coordinated by Directorate-General Communication, bearing out that 85 per cent of the Maltese people are satisfied with the life they lead in general, is considered to be another encouraging and positive certificate to the government led by Lawrence Gonzi. This study was measured just few days after the last Nationalist Party electoral win and moreover one can detect a slight increase of two per cent when compared to a similar study in autumn 2007.
Undeniably this was one of the highlights of the newly Eurobarometer study issued for spring 2008. This local fraction is eight points higher than the EU average, as Denmark and The Netherlands are the most happy (96 per cent).
How should we deduce such result? For my part our country should aim higher so that in the near future we can be at the top of the list, but simultaneously we must emphasise that this study acknowledges the present circumstances of the Maltese people. Interestingly enough only 15 per cent of Maltese respondents opposed the majority. One should also stress that 40 per cent of the Maltese people expect that their life will get better in the next 12 months, while only 13 per cent anticipate that their standard of living will get worse.
These were some of the positive features outlined from this reading. However, there are other issues of concern that one should address, for instance rising prices, inflation and immigration. At least 40 per cent of the respondents said that rising prices and inflation were the most important issues faced by the country, compared to 37 per cent of all EU correspondents.
Inflation is going up everywhere in Europe, but this shouldn’t be relief. We are once again discussing the inflation topic following a recent National Statistics Office report claiming that the annual rate rose to 5.6 per cent. It’s true, this is not only happening in Malta as the annual inflation rose also in 15 EU member states, but once again this shouldn’t be a solace. We have to tackle this problem and embark on a clear mission to lower the inflation rate. Nevertheless as our inflation rate is one of the highest in the euro zone, the average wage rise is the lowest. We should also address this problem!
I am positive and optimistic that this can happen because the present administration already achieved great results by enlarging our country’s rate of economic growth through local and foreign investment. But this is scanty. We should seek higher and raise our living standards to be the best in the EU and this can possibly turn out. Our country is already competitive and it is proving that it’s capable to attract foreign investment to our shores.
We should persist and take advantage of our geographical position, being in the heart of the Mediterranean, and continue to act as a magnet for foreign companies to Malta. Our country is a well-connected venture site. SmartCity Malta is the best example, as it will soon generate around 6,000 new jobs for Maltese people. Look at Malta under a Nationalist administration – it is home to hundreds of foreign companies all operating within a well-developed economic and industrial structure. But this is not enough and we should strive for more foreign investment in order to remain a competitive country.
On a positive note, I am delighted that Maltese people are now showing more concern about the environment and energy-related issues, according to EU survey. This is a proof of maturity and change in mentality and attitude. Furthermore I interpret the fact that Maltese people are shifting their worries about unemployment and the economic situation to green issues, as another vote of confidence to Gonzi’s administration, as people are putting more their mind at rest on the unemployment and economic situation of our country. Still we have to tackle the environmental concern, particularly the fight to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the near future as stated by the EU.
I was also satisfied with the six per cent increase, to 60 per cent, of people favouring EU membership and a much higher increase of nine per cent, to 72 per cent, of those who are supporting euro adoption. Let’s not forget that these two were crucial issues for our country till some months ago and the Malta Labour Party campaigned heavily against them. The absolute majority of the Maltese people now understand who was right and who was wrong.
In view of the MEP elections scheduled for next year, as an MEP I was pleased to read that the European Parliament is the most well known EU institution (94 per cent of the respondents), making it a higher figure than the EU average of 87 per cent. Sixty-one per cent of the Maltese trusted the European Parliament when compared to the EU average of 52 per cent.
Such results and study are heartening and encouraging but we should admit that there are some aspects that we still need to tackle. We must seriously address the top concerns of Maltese citizens such as rising prices, inflation, immigration and environment. The government already started to deal with these issues but we need to be cohesive in order to fight these concerns. I only hope that the party in opposition is actually ready to give a helping hand for the best of our nation.
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David Casa is a Nationalist MEP