Rising Prices & Cost Of Living Main Voter Concerns

Mar 25 2025

The European Parliament’s 2024 post-electoral Eurobarometer survey examines citizens’ voting behaviour in the recent European elections, the key issues influencing their decisions, and their attitudes towards the EU and the European Parliament.

Rising prices and the cost of living (42%) and the economic situation (41%) were the primary factors driving Europeans to vote in the June elections.

A third of voters (34%) were motivated by international issues, while a similar proportion cited defending democracy and the rule of law (32%). Among non-voters, 46% said the cost of living and 36% the economic situation could have encouraged them to vote.

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Trust in European parliamentary democracy is notably high at the beginning of the tenth EP parliamentary term, with 42% of citizens expressing a positive view of the European Parliament — the highest figure ever recorded.

Citizens are optimistic about the EU’s future, with 65% holding a positive outlook, and 70% of Europeans believe their country has benefitted from EU membership, a figure that has remained stable in recent years.

The study also reveals that voting in European elections has become a democratic habit for many. Among voters, 46% always vote, 42% see it as their civic duty, and 20% vote to support a political party aligned with their values.

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Activists Call For Malta-Israel Match Boycott

Mar 25 2025

Activist groups in Malta are calling for a boycott of the upcoming rugby match between Malta and Israel, set for April 5th at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

The groups, including Moviment Graffitti, Ġustizzja għall-Palestina, Watermelon Warriors, Lebanese Advocates, and Youth for Palestine, are urging the public to “show Israel the red card” in protest of what they describe as “sportswashing” amid Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

The statement, supporting the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), criticizes Israel’s participation in international sporting events, calling it an attempt to whitewash its military operations.

The groups emphasize that rugby, like other team sports, should unite people, but must not ignore Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“We need to hold Israel accountable through boycotts and sanctions against those complicit in its actions,” they stated.

The coalition is also calling on Rugby Europe to suspend Israel’s national rugby team, as it did with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, accusing the union of violating its ethical code by allowing Israel to compete and imposing fines on teams that refuse to play against Israel.

President of the Malta Rugby Football Union Robert Portelli told Times of Malta that sport ‘should remain a tool for peace’ and should be an ‘opportunity to unite people rather than divide them.’

ToM also reported that the MRFU could be fined tens of thousands of euros if they refuse to play. The newsroom was also informed that, in 2023, the union was fined €20,000 when they refused to travel to Israel due to insecurity in the region.

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Tiny Scholars New Childcare Centre Opens in Paola

Mar 25 2025

Tiny Scholars a new childcare centre has recently opened its doors in Paola.

The centre is committed to providing an environment free from screens, focusing instead on direct communication and meaningful interactions.

Tiny Scholars’ facility is designed to encourage exploration and engagement, with spacious areas for various activities and natural light flooding the interiors.

Safety and quality are key priorities at Tiny Scholars. All toys and educational materials meet stringent industry standards, ensuring that children have access to age-appropriate resources that foster interactive, engaging play.

its outdoor space is designed for discovery and exploration where children can participate in gardening activities, growing their own herbs and flowers.

Tiny Scholars provides free childcare with no minimum hours, allowing families to maintain a balance between childcare and family time.

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Updated Energy Audit Scheme To Support SMEs

Mar 25 2025

The Ministry for the Environment and Energy has launched an updated Energy Audit Scheme, offering enhanced financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across a wide range of sectors. This initiative aims to help businesses reduce operational costs and boost sustainability by providing grants between €2,500 and €6,000 for energy and water usage assessments. By making these audits more affordable and accessible, the scheme encourages companies to adopt energy-efficient practices that can lower their environmental impact.

Minister for the Environment and Energy, Miriam Dalli, highlighted the scheme’s role in advancing Malta’s commitment to sustainable innovation. “We are dedicated to helping businesses transition to more responsible operations. By offering financial support for energy audits, we are empowering companies to adopt cleaner, greener practices, helping to protect Malta’s resources for the future,” she stated.

The scheme also complements the Malta Engineering Excellence Award (MEEA), which honours exceptional contributions to energy and water conservation. As part of this initiative, forty trees were planted in Milbrae Grove, Mosta, as a symbol of sustainability, supported by the Energy and Water Agency (EWA) and the Chamber of Engineers.

The 2024 MEEA winner, STMicroelectronics, was recognised for its innovative industrial wastewater recycling project, which reduced water consumption by 32%. The award continues to showcase the growing focus on sustainability, with increasing participation from businesses dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint.

For more information on the Energy Audit Scheme or to submit an application please visit the EWA website energywateragency.gov.mt/energyaudits/ or contact energyefficiency@gov.mt.

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