Immigrants do not offer any added value to the local economy or culture, according to the majority of Maltese who responded to an EU-wide survey.
Asked whether immigration enriched Malta’s economy and cultural diversity, 55 per cent of the 500 respondents said they did not with 32 per cent recognising the benefits of migration.
While many researchers across the old continent are pushing the EU to recognise its demographic deficit and prepare for an influx of regular migration to keep up with the economic and lifestyle levels in Europe, the Maltese population still seems to be unaware of this reality.
The survey showed that a relative majority of Maltese (45 per cent) opposed the idea that the EU should encourage migration with 35 per cent agreeing.
The survey, conducted in Malta by Misco last December when the migration issue was calmer than in the past weeks, showed the Maltese were expecting more solidarity from member states to “get rid” of irregular migrants and asylum seekers landing on the island’s shores.
Almost all Maltese respondents, 95 per cent, said they expected the EU to offer much more assistance to member states in their fight against irregular migration and 89 per cent felt the costs of such a “burden” should be shared.
The same opinion was shared in relation to asylum seekers, even though the majority of Maltese, 86 per cent, felt the EU should give asylum protection to those in need.
According to 85 per cent of Maltese, “asylum seekers should be equally shared among member states” and costs should be covered by the EU or divided among the 27 members.
Asked about integration, 56 per cent of Maltese admitted that migrants were not integrating in society as they were being discriminated against.
The Eurobarometer survey, which also tackled other aspects of home affairs issues in the EU, showed that the Maltese were among the most EU citizens to feel secure in their country.
Almost all respondents, 97 per cent, said they felt “very safe” in Malta. The only other member state that had such a positive response was Finland, where 98 per cent said they felt safe.