Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1446843
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 JANUARY 2022 NEWS JAMES DEBONO 59% of Maltese would prefer a European society which gives more importance to order than to individual freedom, accord- ing to a Eurobarometer survey conducted in all EU member states. This makes the Maltese the most likely in the EU to prefer "order" over "personal freedom". Europeans were largely split in two camps when answering this fundamental but abstract ques- tion, which often cuts across the ideological divide depending on which issue is being discussed at any particular time. But surprisingly, both Maltese and European are now more po- larised than they were in 2017, with the percentage who think that order and freedom are equally important dropping by 18 points in the EU as a whole, and by 14 points in Malta. This increased polarisation could reflect a change in public attitudes during the pandemic in the face of restrictions on per- sonal freedoms through lock- downs and vaccine mandates. But the pandemic has also ex- posed contradictions amongst those on the right, who normal- ly prioritise 'law and order' but then express concern on the erosion of freedoms in the face of the State's attempt to contain the virus and among those on the left who normally favour an extension of personal freedoms but support measures aimed at protecting the collective. Since the question was a gener- ic one, it is also possible that it was interpreted differently ac- cording to the realities prevail- ing in each country. But it does give an indication on the mind- frame prevailing in different member states. The survey shows 'order' pre- vailing over 'freedom' in 12 countries and 'freedom' prevail- ing over 'order' in 14 countries. Compared to 2017, respond- ents in all Europe are now more likely to prefer individual free- dom (+12 percentage points) or order (+10) and are now less likely to prefer a society where both are equally important (-18). But while the Maltese are the most likely to aspire for a Europe which prioritises order over freedom, the percentage of those who prefer freedom has increased by 14 points while those who prefer order has only in- creased by 3 points. In 14 Member States, a majority of re- spondents pre- fer a 2030 Eu- ropean society where more importance i s placed on order, and this prefer- ence is strongest in Malta (59%), Spain, Finland (both 56%) and Poland (55%). In 12 countries the strong- est preference is for more im- portance placed on individual freedoms with the largest pro- portions seen in Greece, the Netherlands (both 59%) and Austria (58%). The Maltese also overwhelm- ingly want a Europe which prioritises solidarity over indi- vidualism as does a majority of respondents in all EU member states. When asked their preferenc- es for an EU society in 2030, more than eight in ten Eu- ropean respondents would prefer more importance given to solidarity, while 13% prefer one with more importance given to individu- alism. In Malta the percentage who value solidarity over individu- alism increases to 90%. The majority of re- spondents in each Member State prefer EU society in 2030 to place more importance on sol- idarity, with proportions rang- ing from 94% in Spain, 93% in Greece and 91% in France and Luxembourg to 58% in Austria, 62% in Slovakia and 68% in Fin- land. In general, former communist countries were more inclined to favour individualism over soli- darity; while states ravaged by austerity in the wake of the 2009 financial crisis (like Spain and Greece) more inclined to prior- itise solidarity. The survey also shows that migration is considered by the Maltese as the most pressing challenge for the EU. While 31% of all Europeans consider mi- gration as one of Europe's three main challenges, the percent- age rises to 61% in Malta. The most pressing challenge for re- spondents in all member states is social inequality (36%) but in Malta only 24% consider ine- quality as one of the three main challenges. The survey also shows that 62% of the Maltese consider EU membership as a good thing as do a similar percentage of re- spondents in all EU member states. Only 10% of the Maltese consider EU membership a bad thing. The percentage who con- sider EU membership a good thing rises to a staggering 72% among Maltese youths aged be- tween 15 and 24. Law and order: 59% of Maltese prefer order over freedom Maltese top European charts in choosing order over individual freedom when asked what kind of society they would like to see in 2030 Walliams in Malta for film awards Globally acclaimed British comedian, actor, writer and television show presenter David Walliams yesterday hosted the first-ever Malta Film Awards at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. He was welcomed to Malta by film commissioner Johann Grech (pictured, left) seen here at the Malta film facilities near Ricasoli. 90 nominees competed in 18 different categories at the Malta Film Awards, which were broadcast live yesterday. Walliams hosted the entire awards ceremony which will also see both local and international talent take it to the stage in a variety of performances aimed to commemorate Malta's success story in the film history.