Say Cheese!

I was quite surprised by the fact that the latest Eurobarometer survey of the 13 European Union accession and candidate countries, including Malta, was not given its due importance by the local media. We got only a small number of relatively short reports, many of which missed out on important findings that should be recorded and analysed thoroughly.

The Eurobarometer is a survey regularly commissioned by the European Commission in EU member states and occasionally in accession and candidate countries. In other words, it is a snapshot of opinion in the various countries. One of the main aims of the survey this time round was to assess the opinion of present and future EU member states regarding a number of proposals that were being discussed in the Convention on the Future of Europe. The next survey is due at the beginning of autumn before the start of the inter-governmental conference which will lead to the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union.

In my opinion, the most significant data emerged from a question about how the Maltese people describe themselves. Respondents in all surveyed countries were asked this question, in terms of nationality and European status. In Malta, 59 per cent said they felt Maltese and European. The second largest block, consisting of 30 per cent of the 500 Maltese respondents said they felt European and Maltese. There were six per cent who said they felt only European and one per cent who would describe themselves solely as Maltese.

This response says a lot about us as a people and one could make a lot of comments about the attachment to our national identity. Basing oneself solely on these data, one could say that a strong majority of Maltese people value their nationality but also feel they are part of a continent.

Nevertheless, only half the respondents said it was EU membership which made them feel more European. In other words, for many members of our community, "Europeanness" is not a matter of membership or non-membership. They feel that Malta was and is European and that it does not need any rubber stamping to be part and parcel of the continent.

Back to national pride, when respondents were asked directly whether they are proud of their nationality, 95 per cent answered in the affirmative, coming second only to Cypriots (97 per cent). At the same time, 71 per cent of Maltese said they felt proud to be European. This answer helps one assess even better the first question, even though some data could prove to be conflicting. This is because, even more than the sum of those who, in one way or another, describe themselves as Maltese are proud of their nationality (90 per cent vs 95 per cent). Nevertheless, not all those who describe themselves as European are necessarily proud of this (95 per cent vs 71 per cent). I think this factor commands some further investigation elsewhere.

Other interesting data deal with the perceived opportunities and threat of European Union membership. While 58 per cent think that at the end of the day the country would benefit from this, only 47 per cent of the same respondents actually think that they will be personally better off.

According to respondents, those who will benefit most from EU membership will be professionals and large business. On the other hand, those who stand to lose are small business and farmers. Most of these findings are in synch with what Labour has been saying for the past years, namely that self-employed, micro enterprises and SMEs are those which stand to lose from EU membership.

Furthermore, agriculture will be reduced to another drydocks, that is an industry solely dependent on subsidies which at the end of the day will be paid out by Maltese consumers. At the same time, these very consumers will be paying more for a number of imported agricultural products, either through a straight increase in prices to be attributed to the Common Agricultural Policy or through taxation which will finance the subsidies.

On a positive note, the Maltese think that EU membership will allow them to work abroad, study abroad and move to another country. The respondents think that the negative side of all this is that jobs could be relocated abroad, organised crime is likely to increase and there will be a loss in national power.

Going local, the Maltese respondents indicated the economic situation, unemployment and pensions as the three most important problems facing the country in the immediate future. So, despite all the buzz phrases dished out by the government, the Maltese are effectively worried about the state of the country's economy, which at the end of the day is threatening their employment prospects and livelihood. At the same time, people are feeling increasingly insecure about their future and the welfare system they have grown used to.

Sixty-one per cent of Maltese respondents are for keeping the name "European Union" when compared to "United Europe" or "United States of Europe", a clear sign that they do not favour federalist moves. Sixty-nine per cent believe that the European Parliament should have control over the European Commission, while 56 per cent of Maltese are against the introduction of a European tax, meaning that they are the second strongest opponents after Cyprus (57 per cent).

Sixty per cent prefer that decisions be taken by unanimity between member states, with 44 per cent of Maltese being in favour of retaining the veto.

I believe that the results of this Eurobarometer survey should help one understand better the aspirations of the Maltese people. This is new ground for many since until now the debate has focused solely on whether or not the country should join the European Union. This, as I have argued before, is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many issues that still need to be faced and problems to be solved. The Eurobarometer snapshot shows us as a proud people who are moderately positive about EU membership but are aware of the difficulties that could arise and want to resist any moves that could undermine their already small voice in the decision making process.

Such snapshots must be kept in mind in drafting policies for the future of our country.