Four in every five Maltese people are happy with the island’s economic situation, according to a new European study.
Figures issued yesterday show that nearly 40 per cent of Europeans think the situation of their national economy is good, with Germany, Denmark and Malta topping the list.
Malta’s figure rose to 81 per cent in spring, up from 73 per cent in autumn.
Unsurprisingly, the Spaniards and the Greeks were the most pessimistic, with less than 10 per cent of the population considering the situation of the national economy as good.
The figures were compiled in spring for the latest Eurobarometer, which shows that Europeans are more worried about migration that the economic situation.
Mentioned by two fifths of Europeans, immigration is now seen as the main issue facing the EU in 20 member states – up from four in autumn. This concern is raised by 65 per cent the Maltese population, followed by Germany (55 per cent) and Estonia (54 per cent).
Despite the lull in arrivals, immigration is held to be the most important issue Malta is facing as a nation
Ranking as the fifth most important concern facing the EU, terrorism tops the list of worries in Romania and second in the Czech Republic, Malta, Bulgaria and Poland.
Despite the lull in arrivals, immigration is held to be the most important issue Malta is facing as a nation.
Immigration, cited by a fourth of Europeans, features as the most important concern in four countries: Malta (76 per cent), Germany (46 per cent), the UK and Denmark (35 per cent).
The environment, climate and energy issues and pensions feature high in the list of the most pressing matters worrying the Maltese at a national level. Europeans were also asked about common policies for certain issues such as migration. Ranking in second place with Germany, 84 per cent of the Maltese said they wanted a common policy on migration.
Most Europeans believe the free movement of people, goods and services, better known as the single market, is the most positive achievement of the EU, almost at par with peace among member states.