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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 NOVEMBER 2021 NEWS 11 JAMES DEBONO MALTA has been ranked Eu- rope's third most optimistic country according to a Social Optimism Index based on data compiled from different Euro- barometer surveys. In an index that confirms the Maltese reputation for being generally sanguine and gregari- ous types, Malta is one of 12 EU countries in which over half the population considers itself to be socially optimistic. Indeed, Malta and Portugal emerge as an exception among Mediterranean member states, which tend to be among the least optimistic. Two countries severely im- pacted by the 2009 financial cri- sis emerged at both ends of the index: Ireland as the EU's most socially optimistic country, and Greece as the most socially pes- simistic one. "11 years after the start of the economic crisis, the emotion- al climate in Greece remained profoundly pessimistic. Con- versely, the economic boom experienced by Ireland in re- cent years has also had a clear impact on the population's feelings, with Ireland now more optimistic than any other EU country," the report by sociolo- gist Eduardo Bericat, published by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, said. But the top tier group of opti- mistic nations includes Nordic, central and eastern European, Mediterranean and Continental countries. And this ranking de- fies north-south and east-west divides found in other rankings. In general Nordic countries tend to be most optimistic while eastern and central European countries are more optimistic than Mediterranean ones, and even more so than the Conti- nental countries. Some of the most affluent European countries, such as France, Belgium and Italy, have relatively high levels of social pessimism, which also poses "a severe problem for the future of Europe" the authors say. The Optimism Index is a com- posite indicator made up of six variables based on Eurobarom- eter questions about person- al and national expectations, about the direction, right or wrong, of the respondent's own country and the EU, confidence about the future and the EU's future in particular. The highest degree of social op- timism was recorded in Ireland (0.687) and Denmark (0.582) followed by Malta (0.424) and Luxembourg (0.407). Finland, Portugal, Poland, the Nether- lands, Lithuania, Latvia, and Hungary share a relatively high level of social optimism, rang- ing from 0.366 to 0.308. The most pessimistic countries are Czechia (-0.067), Cyprus (-0.092), Italy (-0.111), Belgium (-0.135), France (-0.262) and fi- nally Greece (-0.650). Trust in institutions and eco- nomic growth rates and pur- chasing power were found to be the key country-level drivers of optimism. The study concludes that peo- ple are more optimistic if they feel they are living in a cohesive society: they feel attachment to a community, have a sense of belonging and view positively the contribution of immigrants to the economy and society. Social optimism and pessi- mism are also linked to life sat- isfaction or happiness, as well as with level of trust in institutions and satisfaction with democ- racy. Pessimism is also closely linked to discontent with estab- lished institutions. Members of the lower middle-class are most likely to be pessimistic. People who feel their voice counts tend to be more optimistic not only about their own future but also about that of the society they live in. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Malta ranked third most optimistic country in Europe Index assessing expectations for the future puts Malta ahead of all European countries except Ireland and Denmark Look to the future! Most optimistic nations, according to Eurobarometer poll 1 Ireland 2. Denmark 3. Malta 4. Luxembourg 5. Finland 6. Poland 7. Portugal 8. Netherlands 9. Lithuania 10. Latvia 11. Hungary 12. Austria 13. Estonia 14. Slovenia 15. Spain 16. Sweden 17. Bulgaria 18. Romania 19. Slovakia 20. Germany 21. Croatia 22. Czechia 23. Cyprus 24.Italy 25.Belgium 26.France 27. Greece Farmers want precautions over extended Qrendi fire- works factory JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage has expressed "its immediate concern" on a proposed 4,000sq.m expansion of the Qrendi fireworks factory on agricultural land. The Superintendence warned that the extension would result in the "intensification and pro- liferation of development" out- side development zones, which would "negatively impact the cultural landscape". The Superintendence is rec- ommending that the propos- al is redirected towards areas which are already disturbed. As proposed the application is proposing an expansion of the factory in two directions: a southern expansion of five new workshops 400m from the Blue Grotto and just 100m from a buffer zone for the coastal cliffs – this area is generally free from any development; and a north-easternly exten- sion for an office, restrooms, an open work-shed and black powder stores, on land that al- ready includes a pathway but is 250m away from the protected Maqluba sinkhole. A number of farmers tilling land in the area are calling for precautionary measures, in- cluding blast-proof boundary walls of a certain height, and an adequate buffer zone between any new structure and their boundary walls. Another farmer also called for an assessment of the visual impact due to the slope of the terrain. A policy approved in 2014 permits the expansion of ex- isting fireworks factories but requires previous clearance by "ad hoc technical committee" which addresses safety issues. The policy also allows the erec- tion of brand-new factories on dry agricultural land.