Maltese most likely to believe their country would benefit from EU enlargement

Maltese people are most likely to believe their country would benefit from a larger European Union, according to a new Eurobarometer poll.

Some 74% of Maltese people surveyed said they believe Malta would benefit from EU enlargement, putting Malta at the top of all member states in this category. 

On average 56% of Europeans felt they would benefit from more countries joining the EU. People in Czechia were the least optimistic, registering 41%, the lowest of all member states. 

Graphic: Eurobarometer.

While the study suggests Maltese people see the benefits for the country, respondents were more lukewarm about backing EU enlargement, with just over two-thirds (69%) responding favourably to the idea of bringing more countries into the union. 

Expansion was most popular in Sweden, where 79% said they were “somewhat” or “very much” in favour.

Enlargement of the European Union from its current 27 member states to possibly 35 members has been put more firmly on the agenda since Russia's invastion of Ukraine. 

Concern for 'uncontrolled migration'

The top concern over allowing more countries to join the EU was "uncontrolled migration", mentioned by almost half (49%) of Maltese people surveyed. 

The Maltese were also strongly concerned about the prospect of corruption, organised crime and terrorism (42%) and the possible erosion of European values (36%).

These concerns largely mirrored those seen at a European level; uncontrolled migration was the top concern overall, with an average of 40% of respondents across the union selecting it as a worry, followed by corruption, organised crime and terrorism (39%).

Larger market

Those in Malta said the biggest benefits of EU enlargement would be having a larger market to do business with (47%), the availability of more job opportunities and skilled labour (42%) and more solidarity between member states in the event of disaster or pandemic scenarios (36%).

Overall, Europeans believe the biggest joint benefits to be a larger market and the EU having a stronger influence in the world (both 37%). More work opportunities and skilled labour (31%) were the third most selected benefit at an EU level.

Who should join? 

When it came to each member state’s most favoured candidate for EU membership, Malta bucked the trend, putting its weight behind North Macedonia, which garnered support from more than half (57%) of the Maltese.

Only in Slovenia did North Macedonia also find majority support, where an impressive 70% of respondents put it as their favoured country.

Seen as an early frontrunner for joining the EU following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, North Macedonia has faced vetoes from Greece and Bulgaria over bilateral disputes. 

Graphic: Eurobarometer.

Most countries – including heavyweights France and Germany – backed bringing Ukraine into the fold, a sentiment seen most strongly in Sweden, where a staggering 91% of respondents put the wartime country as their favoured candidate.

On average, Ukraine was the most favoured potential candidate, with 52% of respondents across the EU expressing support for its EU accession once all membership conditions are met. Some 53% of Maltese back Ukraine joining the bloc. 

The Eurobarometer survey is a comprehensive public opinion study designed to gather information about attitudes to social and political issues across the union.

A total of 503 Maltese participants aged 15 and above were interviewed between February and March this year for the survey. More than 26,000 participants were interviewed across the EU.