Engineers vote for membership

The Chamber of Engineers has taken an official stand in favour of European Union membership after members voted overwhelmingly in favour.

A survey carried out at the end of January asked members how they felt EU membership would affect their profession, the sector they work in, and the economy.

Eighty-nine per cent of the respondents endorsed the EU package obtained by the government.

Ten per cent expressed their disapproval and one per cent gave no response.

The majority of respondents (77 per cent) said EU membership would have a positive effect on their career.

Seventy-six per cent said membership would benefit the sector they worked in, and 82 per cent said it would benefit the economy in general.

Four per cent said membership would affect their career negatively, nine per cent would harm the sector, and six per cent said it would harm the economy.

Of the 55 per cent who responded to the survey, the majority (76 per cent) are employed.

The majority of respondents varied mainly between 26 and 45 years of age.

Commenting on the results of the survey, chamber president Ing. Alexander Tranter said it was clear that engineers saw accession as an opportunity for Malta to increase its economic growth and improve the general well being of the Maltese.

Mr Tranter said it was encouraging for the council to receive such a good response to the survey.

"From the results we received, it is very clear that our members are in favour of Malta joining the EU. I am sure engineers will look forward to playing a key role in making EU accession a success story for our country."

The Chamber of Engineers was founded in 1971 and today represents over 1,000 engineers.

Its membership base is made up of warranted engineers, graduate engineers, retired engineers and university engineering students.