Brussels, 18/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Europeans believe that the economy is recovering and are largely satisfied and positive regarding their personal situation, the latest Eurobarometer survey on the social climate in the EU reveals. The survey, published by the European Commission on Monday 17 October shows that, although EU citizens remain negative when evaluating the general situation of their country, they seem to feel that things are looking up economically and they see improvement in their personal lives. The overall optimistic evaluation of life in general is better than that observed in 2010, although this latest survey shows that people feel daily life is more costly than last year.
This general picture conceals strong differences within the EU. The contrast in views on personal and economic situations between the northern countries and those in the south of Europe reflects differences in the impact of the financial downturn and the austerity measures that have resulted from it. The general perception is that the situation is improving in countries viewed as being rich, while the things are deteriorating in less well-off countries, said Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner László Andor in a press release. Thus, the Greeks and Portuguese are among those most unhappy with their current situation, sharing, with the Romanians, the bottom three places in most of the categories of the survey. (JK/transl.rt)