Maltese say public debt is Europe’s main challenge – Eurobarometer

Public debt is Europe's main challenge of the European Union according to 60% of the Maltese, a Eurobarometer survey on the Future of Europe reveals.

The Maltese were only second to the Germans in considering public debt of member states as Europe's main challenge for the future.

The survey report states that "public debt of the Member States is seen as the main priority in countries where unemployment rates  are relatively low."

Around six out of ten respondents in Germany (61%) and Malta (60%) view public debt as the main challenge, followed by respondents in Austria (55%), the Netherlands (54%), and the Czech Republic and Finland (both 49%).

Only 39% of the Maltese considered unemployment as the EU's main future challenge. 33% of Maltese think that the EU's main future challenge is its ageing population.

Only 3% think (compared to 12% of Europeans) think that insufficient growth is Europe's main problem. While 22% of European consider  social inequality as Europe's main challenge, only 7% of the Maltese think likewise. 7% of Maltese and Europeans consider the environment as Europe's main future challenge.

Respondents were asked to state the EU's two main challenges in facing the future.

Overall unemployment (41%) and the public debt of its Member States (40%) top the list, far ahead of the six other issues that respondents could choose from.

Unemployment ranks as the top priority in 15 Member States while the public debt of its Member States ranks as the top priority in the remaining countries. In Spain, unemployment is the main challenge for two in three people (67%).

Unemployment is also mentioned by large proportions of the population in Cyprus (60%), and Greece (55%).