VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Growing social discontent in Europe is linked to a deterioration in living standards and the economic hardships faced by families. This is the view of Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela, who has defended Malta’s economic model, describing it as a source of stability for both citizens and businesses.
Speaking at an event, he pointed to recent youth protests in France, Italy, and Albania, arguing that several European governments are struggling increasingly to shield their citizens from the fallout of the economic crisis.
In contrast, the Prime Minister highlighted the strategy adopted by Malta, emphasizing the government’s commitment to mitigating the impact of the rising cost of living on households and enterprises.
Abela noted that, during discussions among European Union member states regarding the upcoming EU budget, the debate has focused primarily on funding ongoing wars rather than addressing the economic struggles of ordinary citizens.
According to Abela, while European leaders remain preoccupied with international crises, the quality of life across the continent continues to decline, with a growing number of families struggling to cover essential expenses. The Maltese leader defended the decision to maintain public intervention in energy pricing through subsidies designed to protect families and businesses from price hikes on international markets.
This policy, Abela argued, allows the country to maintain economic stability and focus on future opportunities, rather than merely reacting to immediate emergencies.
While acknowledging that Malta’s strong economic performance does not mean the absence of internal challenges, he dismissed criticisms of the government’s economic model as “populist,” asking: “If you have a recipe that works, do you throw it away, or do you try to improve it?” According to Abela, Malta must therefore focus on improving the quality of its growth, without abandoning the economic approach that, in his view, has helped ensure stability for the country.
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(ITALPRESS).
