Survey: Income inequalities remain high in enlarged EU 

The second European Quality of Life Survey, carried out by Eurofound, a Dublin-based EU agency, interviewed 35,000 people face-to-face to assess their levels of life satisfaction. 

As with the first survey, published in 2003, Eurofund found that in 2007, "standards of living and reported well-being of Europeans are closely related to the economy of the country in which they live". 

However, the report also sounds a warning note, indicating that "the proportion of people who suffer multiple deprivations, i.e. those who could not afford five or six of the basic necessities, is five times higher in the 12 new EU member states than in the [...] EU 15 countries". 

Addressing this trend, Robert Anderson, Eurofund's head of unit responsible for living conditions and quality of life, told EurActiv that while there were certain improvements for new member states in specific quality of life indicators such as housing, the income inequalities highlighted in these countries remain, and may even have increased since 2003. 

"As in 2003, very important differences remain between income groups within countries, particularly in new member states," he said. 

The field work for the second survey was carried out in 31 countries (EU 27 plus Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Norway and Turkey) during the period September 2007-February 2008. 

Anderson admitted that as the survey was carried out before the current financial crisis had fully erupted, there was a "time lag" between the findings and what Europeans may currently be experiencing. 

"Of course [the crisis] makes a difference to certain questions," he noted, "most likely in questions relating to life satisfaction and optimism for the future."

However, Anderson insisted that these differences should not affect the overall value of the research, stressing that "the basic picture hasn't changed" even if a general "down" effect is being felt across Europe. 

Eurofound will publish an analysis of its findings in mid-2009.