Maltese are more upbeat about the European Union and its various initiatives than most other EU citizens, a national report has found. 

Published today, the National Report of the latest Standard Eurobarometer Survey found the Maltese are more positive about the single currency, potential further EU enlargement, a free trade agreement between the EU and US and a common energy policy than the average EU citizen. 

Conversely, Maltese are less keen on a common EU foreign policy than the EU average, with locals and other EU citizens expressing similar levels of support for a common migration policy (70 per cent). Support for this policy has dwindled in recent years, with 75 per cent having expressed support in 2015. 

Immigration

The survey found that 95 per cent of respondents felt more measures were needed to fight irregular migration of third-country nationals into the EU. More than half of these believe action should take place at EU level. 

Negative perceptions about non-EU immigrants abound, with just 36 per cent believing immigrants contribute a lot to the country. Yet, an element of solidarity can be seen in the finding that 79 per cent believe Malta should do more to help refugees. 

Maltese are more positive about many EU initiatives than their neighbours. Graph: Eurobarometer

Perceptions about EU migrants were more positive, evoking a positive feeling in 60 per cent of respondents.

Locals were also more likely to have faith in the EU's job creation role (75 per cent vs 48 per cent) as well as the EU's success in making it easier to do business in Europe (85 per cent vs 70 per cent).  

The report also found that 94 per cent of Maltese are generally satisfied with the life they lead and 41 per cent expect their life to get better in the next twelve months.

More than four in every five said that the financial situation of their household was good and just over two in every three said their job situation was positive. 

Men tended to be more upbeat about the economy than women, while young people aged under 25 were more likely to express a negative opinion about the economy than older people. 

The survey was conducted in November 2016, with data for the EU report derived from 515 face-to-face interviews.