75 per cent of Maltese favour EU Constitution

A survey conducted on behalf of the European Commission has revealed that 75% of the Maltese interviewed favour the European Constitution.

The survey was conducted in Malta by MISCO International on behalf of the Gallup Europe Network. Interviews were conducted between June 21 and 24 and a series of questions were put to 1,000 participants.

According to the results published last week, 75% of the Maltese respondents said they rather agree when asked whether they were in favour of the EU Constitution. Only 11% said that they disagreed with it, and 13% of the respondents declined to comment. These results are well in line with the results obtained in similar surveys conducted in the other 24 member states.

All member states show a majority in favour of the adoption of the Constitution, although this varies significantly from one country to another. The Swedes seem to be the least enthusiastic with just 50% stating that they are in favour.

As expected, the British, who tend to be Eurosceptics, come second with just 51% in favour.

On the other hand, the widest support for the Constitution is to be found in Hungary, Spain and Italy, which scored the highest, with more than 90% of respondents replying favourably to an EU Constitution.

The survey also assessed the knowledge and the level of information of EU citizens concerning the newly-approved Constitution. The results give quite a clear picture.

EU citizens continue to feel that they are poorly informed. Less than a third of respondents consider themselves well informed on the Constitution.

The percentage of well informed respondents varies from 11% in Finland to 38% in Belgium, Ireland and Slovenia. Malta is one with the highest proportion of well informed citizens - 37%.

National TV and radio stations remain the preferred source of information of EU citizens. The national press is also particularly commended. Nearly three-quarters of Latvian, Italian and Danish respondents cite national television and radio as their preferred source of information. In Malta this figure goes up to 67%. As regards the press, only 35% of the Maltese respondents cite this medium as their preferred one.

As for familiarity with the Constitution's contents, a majority of respondents seemed to know that it provides for a Minister of Foreign Affairs for the European Union. In Malta only 48% of the respondents answered correctly when asked whether it was true that the EU will have a Foreign Minister.

Conversely, a minority seemed informed that it was possible for one million citizens to invite the European Commission to submit a proposal. The level of knowledge of the content of the Constitution is still significantly lower in the new member states and varies considerably from one member state to the other.

The Constitution for Europe was adopted by the heads of government during their summit in Brussels in June. It should be signed by heads of state and government at the end of October in Rome, which saw the signing of the treaty setting up the European Economic Community in 1957.

It will then be ratified by all member states according to the provisions stipulated in each state: either a vote by national parliament or a referendum. Malta will be ratifying the treaty by a parliamentary motion.