74% of Maltese people are not ready to face rise in food prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

74% of Maltese people said that they are not ready to face a rise in food prices following actions and sanctions taken by the European Union against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Special Eurobarometer of the European Parliament Spring 2022 survey revealed.

The survey questioned whether the potential consequences arising from the sanctions imposed on Russia have affected the public in their readiness to confront the potential consequences. 74% in Malta said that they are not ready to face a rise of food prices, while 71% said that they are not ready to face a rise of energy prices.

Across the European Union, 59% responded that they are not ready to face a rise in food prices as a result of the war. 58% of EU27 countries are not ready to face a rise in energy prices.

Consequently, 51% of Maltese people have said that they are not confident that life will continue unchanged due to the potential consequences from the war in Ukraine. 61% of EU27 countries responded with ‘not confident’ that life will go on unchanged.

55% of Maltese people said that the consequences of the war in Ukraine have already reduced standards of living, and they expect that this would still be the case over the next year. 40% of Europeans already experience a reduction of their standard of living whilst a further 47% expect such an impact to happen over the next year. Only one in ten (11%) think the war will not affect their standard of living.

61% of Europeans believe that their life might change, something mainly seen in Greece (86%), Slovakia (86%) and Czechia (81%). 72% of Europeans closely follow the news related to the war in Ukraine. Only around a third (37%) of the respondents believe that life will continue unchanged.

Uncertainty (50%), hope (47%) and confidence (32%) are what citizens across the EU predominantly feel. Overall, hope is the dominant feeling in more countries. Citizens with financial difficulties feel uncertainty most often, the survey revealed.

With regards to EU membership, 65% of Europeans see EU membership as a good thing, an improvement in attitude since 2007. 70% say that EU membership is important. 74% of Maltese people also believe that Malta’s membership of the EU is a good thing.

Democracy is a key value for European citizens, with 38% putting democracy front and centre, followed by ‘freedom of speech and thought’ and ‘the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide’ (both 27%).  

33% of Maltese people believe that the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide should be a matter of priority in the European Parliament. 27% believe this priority should be democracy.