Why do you bother with activism when many students just focus on their studies?

I find that I learn more by doing than by sitting in a classroom. The course is demanding, yes, especially now that we are in the final year, but joining JEF Malta provided me with a unique chance to be creative and explore new things, besides working alongside an incredible team. In fact, this proved to be the best learning opportunity in my entire university experience.

Through my work at JEF Malta I have been able to share and collaborate with other young people from all across Europe. There is a lot that binds us together: I've become friends with people from other countries within minutes, simply because we share common European values. Today I see myself simultaneously as Maltese and European. To be Maltese is also to be European.

Question 2: Does the Erasmus experience leave anything after it ends?

A semester at another university is much more than the months you spend here. Erasmus exposes you to a different educational approach and learning methodology, which helps you develop a different set of skills and abilities. This is especially important for us in Malta where we grow in a relatively contained and linear educational system.

The Erasmus opportunity also exposes you to a wider world and opens new perspectives; who would have thought that my closest friends while I was studying in the Netherlands would be from Chile and Greece? Working, collaborating and living in a multicultural environment gives you a richer outlook - an increasingly important characteristic in today's global economy.

Going on Erasmus is not necessarily an easy process, though, especially when you're still getting used to university life in Malta and suddenly find yourself in a completely new city. But, perhaps the greatest benefit of the experience, is that it challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and discover strengths you didn't know you had. That quality stays with you forever.

Question 3: Does your generation stand to gain from a closer Europe?

Yes, all citizens benefit from closer cooperation between states and young people particularly. Beyond the Erasmus experience, EU projects and policy have allowed me to expand my horizons.

The EU project has already achieved a lot since its inception, but there is much more that members can do together. I think that we should strive for more integration.

At the same time, however, we must acknowledge that around half of the European population today does not express confidence in EU institutions and that many do not have a clear idea about what exactly goes on in Brussels. But I believe that the EU has yet bigger things to accomplish for its citizens, and if people feel valued and represented at a European level, integration will naturally follow.

I think that a closer EU means greater understanding of the differences between states. Malta's size, small population, high-density and insularity, for example, are characteristics that differentiate us from other countries in the EU and they create a unique set of needs and possibilities. A more integrated Europe must take into consideration the nuances of each member state in order to be successful.

Membership in the Union plays a crucial role in our everyday lives, even if we are not always immediately aware of it.

This interview is part of the #EUANDME campaign. Learn more on europa.eu/euandme