Figures issued today by Eurostat, the EU statistics agency show Malta having among the highest energy dependence rates in the EU, at 100 percent. Only Cyprus has a higher rate – 102 percent, while Luxembourg is at 99 percent.

The dependence rate is defined as net imports divided by gross consumption.. A negative dependency rate indicates a net exporter of energy. A value greater than 100% occurs when net imports exceed gross consumption. In this case, energy products are placed in stocks and not used in the year of import.

The Eurostat figures also show that between 1997 and 2006 Malta had the largest decrease in energy consumption, with a drop of 6.4% while Findland recorded the highest increase, at 9.1 percent.

Another EU report, on education systems in the bloc and progress towards the attaingment of the Lisbon Strategy goals, gave Malta low marks, saying it is the lowest performer (with Portugal) in early school leavers, upper secondary attainment and Maths, science and technology graduates (with Cyprus).