The voter turnout in Malta, although four per cent lower than five years ago, was possibly still the highest among the EU states where voting is not compulsory, Peter Agius, the head of the EP Office in Malta said.

He said that, ironically, Maltese politicians had the ability to commit people to vote and it was the emotion politics infused in people that ensured such a high turnout.

Dr Agius said that although nobody could rebut the fact that the Maltese had cooled down, they still had a good understanding of the European Union compared to citizens in other member states.