Slovenia – on the top, Bulgaria – at the bottom, conclude American scientists in a research on East European countries- members of the EU.

This became clear from a survey of The University of California, published on the website of the European delegation in Bulgaria.

The Los Angeles scientists believe that East European countries have to go a long way before they to reach standard of the wealthy EU states.

Bulgaria is leader from the bottom up with needed 100 years to catch up with the “western” standard”. Romania, Hungary and Czech Republic are closer in their results with respectively 45, 35 and 25 years needed to improve.

Slovenia holds the leadership, which has nearly reached the living standard of its neighbours but still the country will need 5 more years to until the full “victory”.

Other similar studies have given Bulgaria between 70 and 227 years to catch up with the West.

The research of the University of California shows that in the 90es the wages in Central and Eastern Europe have been at an average 7% compared to the wages in Austria and Germany, while currently they are nearly one fifth of them.

A capital of $ 24 bln has entered the countries from the former Eastern Block since 1989, conclude the scientists.

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