The young believe in the EU
Young people have more confidence in the European Union and its institutions than their elders, an EU-wide survey has found.
The survey found that 58 per cent of young people had confidence in the EP compared to 48 per cent for the 55+ age group.
The Commission enjoyed the confidence of 52 per cent of young people compared to 43 per cent in the 55+ group. 58 per cent of young people had confidence in the EU against 43 per cent in the older group.
The survey also found that more young people considered EU membership to be rather beneficial for their country.
To young people aged 15 to 24, Europe represented the freedom to travel, work and study everywhere in the EU (55 per cent), the euro (38 per cent), peace (26 per cent), cultural diversity (24 per cent), a stronger say in the world (23 per cent), democracy (21 per cent), economic prosperity (18 per cent), waste of money (11 per cent) and a lack of control at external borders (11 per cent).
The most important personal concerns for young people were inflation (30 per cent), unemployment (29 per cent), the education system (23 per cent) and the economic situation (22 per cent).
41 per cent of young people believed that their financial situation was less secure than the situation of their parents while 47 per cent predicted that the financial future for the children of today would be less secure than their own.
The survey was held as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Maltese Gianluca Bezzina and Marvic Vassallo, who were born in the week when the Wall came down took part in a debate What does Europe mean to me? with another 87 students from all over Europe born in the same week, held in Brussels.
The debate was on EU issues, including the identity of the separate states would be lost in future and the benefits of membership.
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Graham Crocker
Nov 29th 2009, 19:32
Maybe its because some of you are living in the past, when youngsters have no choice but to live in the present.
Mark Galea
Nov 27th 2009, 22:56
@laurence schembri, @lgalea
I know of only one brainwashed category of people ... old MLP supporters that the new PL does not consider as part of the party. They live in the time of KMB.
Robert Scullion
Nov 27th 2009, 22:31
@lgalea
Or perhaps the younger generation are willing to work with other countries to help solve problems
Maybe its the older generation that are brainwashed ..
Peter Korsten
Nov 27th 2009, 22:26
"The fact that the EU wants all Members to accept same sex marriages is detrimental our country."
Ah yes, everybody knows that this is the ultimate goal of the EU, and the abolition of internal borders and barriers, the common currency and streamlining of certain policy areas are all a ploy to hide this goal.
What's detrimental to this country is people living in the past and believing that they are entitled to decide what is good for somebody else.
Charles Sammut
Nov 27th 2009, 22:24
@ Franco Farrugia
If you feel that it is OK to believe in Father Christmas, then I can well understand your support for the EU.
You believe that when Dr Gonzi talks about such and such a project which was financed by EU funds, it means that those funds really came from the EU. It is in fact the other way round. When you factor everything in, we pay more to be members of the EU than we get out of it. Not to mention the plethora of laws, rules and regulations (euphemistically called directives) which we have to apply even though they are unsuited to a tiny country like Malta.
So, Franco be good and don't bad-mouth the EU or Father Christmas will bring you coal this Christmas.
Anthony Roberts
Nov 27th 2009, 20:11
Gosh its nice to know that not being in the 55+ category I am still young enough lol. When I was even younger than I am now I had a negative view of the EU and as I approach the 55+ category, I still have the same negative view. I would love to know how and where these interviews take place because I am sure that these figures do to fully reflect the whole country. How can a minority speak for the whole country? And what do these 'youngsters' know. They have no experience of what the EU truly means, whereas there are those who have had many years experience of EU membership and no that it is not what it is cracked up to be. The fact that the EU wants all Members to accept same sex marriages is detrimental our country. May be this is what they mean by being positive. LOL!!!!
Franco Farrugia
Nov 27th 2009, 19:07
@ laurence schembri - Oh, really? And we presume that you're not the one who is being brainwashed? I, who work among youngsters, can tell you that it would take much, to brainwash young people. Shows how much you know them. @ Igalea: Brainwashed in schools in favor of eu????? Are you serious? I have been teaching in schools for donkey's years and I have barely ever heard the EU being mentioned! For God's sake, man, give us a break and get real! @ N Vortis: Well, that may be the case, but we will have to see about that, won't we? @ Charles Sammut: Well, what's wrong with believing in Father Christmas? As I said to Mr Schembri, you don't have a very high opinion of young ppl today. Shame, really! @ Mr Micallef - That's basically it. The EU has its positives and negatives. But how I thank the lucky stars that we're in, not out, as Labour would have wanted!
Miguel Micallef
Nov 27th 2009, 18:48
The EU as with all other things in life comes with positive and negative changes. I am quite sure the net effect on Malta will be a huge positive one. Our government lacks the stamina to run the country so we are falling back on European values, laws, systems and procedures where our own do not exist, or worse, fail.
Charles Sammut
Nov 27th 2009, 18:12
"The young believe in the EU" - and the younger still believe in Father Christmas.
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 27th 2009, 17:55
Good to see the Generation Gap at work. Keep it up youngsters. The EU is a Union of Hope too, there is so much to learn. Why did it come to fruition ? How can it be of an example to other world regions ? Were where Human Rights founded ? You will contribute to this making yourselves. Go out there, there is so much to see, feel it, live it and above all THINK and REFLECT. Thought is Gods precious gift to us Human Beings. God Bless the future generations.
N.Vortis
Nov 27th 2009, 15:22
Perhaps when the youngers grow older they may change their opinion!!!!!
lgalea
Nov 27th 2009, 15:01
That's because the young are not experienced what it means to be under the eu dictatorship and are brainwashed in schools in favor of the eu dictatorship.
laurence schembri
Nov 27th 2009, 14:18
Brain washed.