Malta registers high level of support for EU membership

Malta continues to show one of the strongest levels of support for European Union membership among all member states, though concerns about trust in institutions and political engagement persist. The latest Spring 2025 Eurobarometer survey offers a detailed snapshot of how Maltese citizens perceive their relationship with the EU, the role of the European Parliament, and the daily impact of European decisions.

An overwhelming majority of Maltese respondents, 79%, say that EU membership has benefitted Malta. This figure is significantly above the EU average of 62% and places Malta among the most positive countries in the bloc. Just 6% of Maltese believe membership has been a disadvantage, while 15% think it has made no real difference.

For Maltese citizens, the EU is not an abstract idea but a concrete force in everyday life. More than two-thirds (68%) say that decisions taken at EU level have an impact on their daily lives. This again exceeds the EU average of 61%, showing that people on the island feel closely connected to Brussels.

The data also shows that Maltese respondents are proud of belonging to the Eurropean family. 81% say they feel attached to the EU, one of the highest results in Europe, compared to an EU average of 61%.

The survey finds that 66% of Maltese people have a positive image of the EU, well above the EU average of 46%. Only 7% view the Union negatively, while 26% have a neutral opinion.

This strong support stands out against a backdrop of political tension in other parts of the bloc. In fact, Malta consistently ranks among the top three member states in terms of overall positivity towards the EU.

While the image of the EU is positive, trust in its institutions tells a more nuanced story. 59% of Maltese respondents say they trust the European Parliament, compared to 49% across the EU. Trust in the European Commission is slightly lower at 54%, though still higher than the EU average (45%).

The European Central Bank fares even better, trusted by 62% of Maltese compared to the EU average of 45%. This may reflect Malta’s reliance on eurozone stability as a small, open economy.

Still, there is a clear distinction between trust in EU institutions and trust in national ones. Only 33% of Maltese respondents say they trust their national parliament, and 35% trust the government. Both figures are below the EU averages of 39% and 38% respectively. This suggests that while Maltese citizens value their EU membership, they are less convinced about how it is managed domestically.

The European Parliament’s role

When asked which institution best represents the EU, 45% of Maltese pointed to the European Parliament, followed by the European Commission (28%) and the European Central Bank (18%). This highlights the visibility of the Parliament as the main democratic body of the Union.

Looking ahead, 64% of Maltese respondents say they want the Parliament to play a more important role in the future. This is markedly above the EU average of 54%.

The main areas Maltese want the Parliament to prioritise are foreign affairs and defence (38%), the fight against poverty and exclusion (37%), and migration (36%).

Despite their strong support for membership, Maltese respondents express a certain distance from EU decision-making. Only 44% feel that their voice counts in the EU, though this is slightly above the EU average of 42%.

At national level, the sense of empowerment is even weaker: just 32% of Maltese believe their voice counts in their own country, compared to an EU average of 58%.