For the first time in three years, a majority of Maltese people believe the country is headed in the right direction, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. But while national confidence has rebounded, the public remains far more cautious about their own personal prospects.The survey, carried out in May among 501 Maltese respondents as part of the EU-wide spring 2025 Eurobarometer, found that 52% believe Malta is going in the right direction – a 10-point jump since the start of the year. It is the first time since 2022 that more than half of Maltese respondents expressed such optimism. Back then, the figure stood at 65%, before plummeting to 29% in spring 2023 amid political scandals and economic uncertainty.Compared with the rest of the EU, Malta’s outlook is unusually upbeat. Only citizens in Luxembourg, Poland, Ireland and Denmark are more positive about their national direction, while the EU-wide average stands at just 37%. The French, Greeks and Cypriots remain the most pessimistic, with majorities convinced their countries are on the wrong path.National vs personal outlookDespite this renewed optimism about Malta as a whole, personal sentiment tells a different story. Just one in five Maltese (21%) believe their own standard of living will improve in the next five years – down 12 points since the start of 2025. Almost half (46%) expect little to change, while 28% fear their living standards will worsen.This gap between national and personal confidence is not unique to Malta, but the divergence is striking given how quickly overall optimism has rebounded.Malta among EU’s most pro-EuropeanThe survey also highlights Malta’s unusually positive relationship with the EU. Ninety-three percent of Maltese respondents believe the country has benefited from EU membership – the highest rate in the bloc. Most attribute these benefits to economic growth (52%), new job opportunities (38%) and better cooperation with other member states (29%).The Maltese are also among the most favourable towards EU institutions. Sixty-two percent say the EU conjures a positive image – the sixth-highest figure in Europe, compared with an EU average of 52%. Support is particularly strong among younger respondents, with nearly eight in ten aged 15 to 24 saying they view the EU positively.When it comes to the European Parliament, 56% of Maltese hold a favourable opinion – the third-highest rate in the bloc. Views are especially positive among students and young adults. Moreover, 84% of Maltese want the European Parliament to play a bigger role in EU affairs, compared to 62% across the EU.Asked which issues MEPs should prioritise, Maltese respondents most frequently cited tackling inflation and the cost of living (38%), followed by public health (29%), democracy and rule of law (28%), and climate change (26%).A call for more EU unityThe survey also found overwhelming support for greater European cooperation. Ninety-five percent of Maltese believe EU member states should be more united in facing global challenges, compared to 90% across the bloc. And 93% want the EU to diversify its revenue sources – for example, through levies on greenhouse gas emissions or corporate profits – to reduce reliance on national contributions.At the same time, however, only 20% of Maltese believe the EU has significantly contributed to peace and security, one of the lowest figures in Europe. Neutrality, a cornerstone of Malta’s foreign policy, may help explain this scepticism.A cautious optimismOverall, the findings paint a picture of a nation regaining confidence in its direction, strongly supportive of EU membership and institutions, but hesitant when it comes to expectations about individual living standards. For policymakers, the message is clear: Maltese optimism about the country’s trajectory is back – but it has yet to translate into optimism about people’s daily lives.•