Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518643
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 The EPP's proposal is also tem- pered by a clause promising re- spect for the neutrality of member states like Malta. PN voters more hawkish Although Maltese voters in gen- eral tend to shun Maltese partic- ipation in a future EU army and oppose participation in military action even if a fellow member state is under attack, the survey in- dicates a sharp divide between PN and PL voters on these issues. While an overall relative majori- ty of 42% favour the creation of an EU army, only 27% of current PL voters agree. On the other hand, support for a common EU army increases to 43% among non-vot- ers and to 57% among current PN voters. And while 52% of current PN voters agree that Malta should form part of a common EU army, support for Malta's participation in such a structure drops to 41% among non-voters and to just 22% among Labour voters. But when confronted with the eventuality of an attack by an exter- nal power on a fellow EU member state, respondents of both parties are reluctant on Malta's participa- tion in a military response to such an attack. Faced with such an eventuality, PN voters are evenly split between 42% who agree that Malta should offer its military support to the aggrieved member state and 41% who would not like Malta being embroiled in such a conflict. Among Labour voters, opposi- tion to Malta's military involve- ment in a conflict pitting an exter- nal power like Russia against an EU member state rises to a staggering 70%. Just over 50% of non-voters also oppose Malta's direct military involvement in such a conflict. The political divide is also reflect- ed in a regional divide, with opposi- tion to Maltese participation in an EU army being substantially higher in the South Harbour (57%), the Southeast (56%) and Gozo (54%). Young and more educated voters keener on common EU defence Political allegiance is not the on- ly fault line when it comes to atti- tudes on EU defence policy. The survey shows that opinions on this topic also differ according to the age, level of education and social class of respondents. Support for the creation of an EU army is strongest among the 16 to 35 age cohort (54%) but progres- sively drops to 40% among 36- to 50-year-olds, to 39% among 51- to 65-year-olds and to 38% among those aged over 65. And while only 37% of the sec- ondary educated support the cre- ation of an EU army, support in- creases to 59% among the tertiary educated. Support for a continental army is also higher among those earn- ing a monthly income of between €3,001 and €4,000 (62%) and low- er among those earning less than €1,000 (37%). The survey also shows that an absolute majority of 16- to 35-year- olds (53%) favour Malta's par- ticipation in a European army in comparison to just 33% of over 65-year-olds. And while only 32% 14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 APRIL 2024 SURVEY Participation in military action Should the European Union have its own army? Should Malta participate in a future EU army? Overall response Overall response Response by gender Response by gender Response by age Response by age Response by voting intentions Response by voting intentions