Europe is a wealthy continent. It doesn’t always feel like it, but standards of living are among the best in the world. The countries with the highest quality of life, as judged by the Social Progress Index, are overwhelmingly European (and eight of the fourteen countries considered to have “Very High Social Progress” are EU Member States).

Of course, there is always still more to do. In Romania, over 40% of children are at risk of poverty and social exclusion; in Sweden, the number is less than half of that. Clearly, some countries are wealthier than others; the national minimum wage in Bulgaria is 235 EUR per month, while the minimum wage in Luxembourg is almost 2,000 EUR. Nevertheless, progress is being made across the continent.

A recent Special Eurobarometer on the Future of Europe asked people if they were happy living in the European Union. The majority said they were:

“More than half of the respondents in each EU Member State say they are happy living in the European Union. Respondents in Luxembourg (97%), Ireland (94%) and the Netherlands and Denmark (both 92%) are the most likely to agree, while those in Hungary (57%), the Czech Republic (58%) and Romania and Greece (both 62%) are the least likely to do so.”

What do our readers think? Are you happy living in the European Union? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!

IMAGE CREDITS: (c) gopixa