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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2017 4 News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Pov- erty, hunger and lack of drink- ing water is considered the most serious problem by 22% of Maltese, followed by climate change (13%). Compared to 2015, concern about international terrorism has risen locally by 4% while concern on climate change dropped by three points. The survey still shows con- cern on climate change to be one point higher than the rest of Europe while concern on poverty is six points lower. In Europe after the Maltese the most concerned with ter- rorism were the Czechs (39%) and the Estonians and Italians (both 32%). However, fewer than one in six respondents in Greece (11%) and Spain and Sweden (both 14%) choose this answer. In only two Member States, climate change is seen as the single most serious global problem: Sweden (38%) and Denmark (29%). The econom- ic situation is seen as the sin- gle most serious global prob- lem in only one Member State, Greece, where just over a third of respondents (36%) give this answer. The percentage of Maltese who regard climate change as the world's greatest problem had already fallen by 16 points between 2013 and 2015 as the percentage who regard terror- ism as a top global problem had risen by 30 points in the aftermath of the Charlie Heb- do attacks in Paris. Moreover while 77% of Mal- tese mentioned international terrorism among the four more serious problems fac- ing the world, 72% mentioned poverty and 49% mentioned climate change. This does not mean that the Maltese are not concerned by the impacts of climate change. In fact they are more likely to rate climate change as a seri- ous problem than the average European respondent. Asked to rate the seriousness of the problem on a scale from 1 to 10, 67% of Maltese gave a rating of 8 to 10 (compared to 58% of all EU 28 member states) while 86% gave a rat- ing of between 6 to 10 (com- pared to 83% of all EU mem- ber states). Since the previous survey in 2015, there has been an increase in the share of re- spondents who say they have personally taken action to fight climate change in 16 Member States, with a de- cline in nine. The largest increases are re- corded in Malta (+17 percent- age points). This means that 75% of the Maltese claim to have taken steps in their per- sonal life during the previous six months to reduce their impact on climate change. The Maltese were more likely than other European citizens to have installed solar panels, to buy local produce, to buy energy saving equipment in their homes and to separate or reduce their waste. While only 4% of respond- ents in all EU member states have installed solar panels on their roof, 14% of Maltese claim to have done so. And although official statis- tics show Malta falling short of EU recycling targets, 83% of Maltese claim that they are separating and reducing their waste compared to just 71% of other EU citizens. But the Maltese are less likely to have insulated their homes, avoid car use and to avoid short flights. While 18% of EU citizens insulate their homes to reduce energy demand, only 8% of the Maltese do so. And while 26% of EU citi- zens have reduced car use by resorting to car sharing, cy- cling or walking only 18% of Maltese claim to have done likewise. Maltese more concerned about terrorism than British and French YANNICK PACE EUROPEAN Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament that the wind was back in Eu- rope's sails, while outlining his "roadmap for stronger, more united and democratic union". Among the points mentioned in his "roadmap", which he laid out in his 'State of the Un- ion' speech last week, Juncker suggested a single president for the union, which would merge the roles of president of the European Commission and of president of the Euro- pean Council. Reacting to the speech, and Juncker's single president pro- posal, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat described the address as a "bold" one, "with lots of points of convergence aimed at the long-term vision of the European Union". "I welcome Juncker's conver- gence aimed at the long-term vision of the European Union. I welcome Juncker's optimistic tone," he said, adding that the proposals could not be taken "in isolation, but as part of a wider reform". He went on to point out that the speech was above all, "a clear call for EU unity and re- form", insisting that European history was "built on crisis", which had in turn led to action and "positive convergence". "It is my hope that Mr Junck- er's State of the Union speech will be a watershed moment which will lead to a better EU," said Muscat, who has in the past been touted as a potential successor to current council president Donald Tusk. David Stellini, the National- ist Party's spokesman for Eu- ropean Affairs, when contact- ed said that the party did not yet have an official position, but said that he personally believed that the suggestion deserved more discussion. He said that the EU's High Representative for foreign af- fairs and security policy, Fed- erica Mogherini, was "part of the council, while at the same time has a place in the college of commissioners". He said that this had "worked" with the EU's for- eign affairs, and on the basis of that, he was in favour of the proposal. Stellini warned however that such a proposal would require a treaty change, which many in Europe would be reluctant to pursue at this stage. This was echoed by MEP Roberta Metsola, who said that the proposal to merge the two roles deserved greater de- bate. "It would certainly give the EU more clout on the world stage, and make it easier for people to identify with Eu- rope, as well as simplifying the burdensome and bureaucratic process of negotiating trade agreements for example," she said. On the other hand, Metsola said she was wary of "overly shifting European policy further away from member states". Reacting to the speech, MEP Alfred Sant said that this year's optimistic tone risked leading to contradic- tions, especially after last year's frustration and disap- pointment. "On the one hand, the claim is that the European project has to be further democra- tised and brought closer to the people. On the other, the suggestions are for further deepening, some to be imple- mented under the radar by an extension of existing rules and of the "Community method," he said. Mixed reactions to Juncker's 'single president' proposal 'The wind is back in Europe's sails,' Jean-Claude Juncker told MEPs