Freedom of Speech was the value most Maltese respondents to a survey believed that the European Parliament should defend as a priority, statistics emerging from the 2019 EU Parlameter reveal. This survey was conducted just before the recent political crisis in the country.

The fieldwork took place from 8 to 22 October 2019 in all 28 EU Member States. 27,607 respondents, drawn as a representative sample from the general population aged 15+, were interviewed face-to-face.  In Malta, 511 were interviewed, the report shows. These interviews were carried out prior to the arrest of Yorgen Fenech in connection to the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Respondents were asked the question – ‘in your opinion, which of the following values should the European Parliament defend as a matter of priority?’ with each person able to select a maximum of three answers.

The options were: The protection of human rights worldwide; Freedom of speech; Equality between men and women; Solidarity between EU member states; Solidarity between the EU and poor countries in the world; The dialogue between cultures and religions; The protection of minorities; The abolition of the death penalty throughout the world.

49% of Maltese respondents picked Freedom of speech as one of their choices, which was the answer with the highest amount. The second highest choice (with 40% picking it), was the protection of human rights worldwide.

The report reads that the different value options fell into four country groups. The protection of human rights worldwide is considered as most important value in twenty countries. Freedom of speech prevails in Finland, the Netherlands, Malta, the United Kingdom and Belgium, while gender equality stands out in France, Spain and Belgium (here on equal level with freedom of speech). Bulgaria is the only country where respondents mention first solidarity between EU Member States.

Another question asked in the Parlameter related to legislative priorities of the EU Parliament, and what respondents believe should be prioritised.

“Tackling social exclusion and poverty is the first concern brought up in twelve EU countries, on an equal footing with other topics in six of them. In eleven countries combating climate change and protecting the environment comes first (with shared priorities in two Member States). Youth unemployment remains a key concern in five countries while the fight against terrorism and organised crime is the first national concern for three. Protecting external borders is a first priority only in Estonia although together with combating terrorism and tacking social exclusion and poverty. Improving consumer rights as well as the quality and access to health services for all citizens appears up in the list in Portugal and Romania, both on equal level with other items. Finally, Malta is the only country that cites the strengthening of a common migration and integration policy as the top-level concern to prioritise.”

The report also asked a number of other questions, including one relating to the people’s view of the European Parliament.

“Although the image of the European Parliament among citizens remains predominantly neutral (46%, +3 pp since September 2018), the trend shows an increasing gap between Europeans with a positive image (33%, +1 pp.) and those with a negative one (19%, -2 pp). The distance between the two curves is marking today its biggest result since October 2008 – therefore becoming more perceptible even on a seemingly stable trend,” the report reads.

Ireland shows the highest results for a positive image (52%), followed by Denmark (49%), Portugal (49%) and Sweden (48%).  “An upward trend for the positive stance runs across a number of Member States. This is mostly notable in Denmark (+10 pp compared to October 2018), Finland (+8 pp), Malta (+7 pp) and in nine additional countries registering an increase of at least 3 percentage points.”  In Malta, a total of 47% had responded that they have a positive image of the European Parliament. This was higher than the EU average. 40% of the Maltese respondents had a neutral image of it.