Bulgarians boast highest levels of home ownership in Europe, according to the European Quality of Life Survey. A Dublin-based EU-agency has found that, despite poor material conditions and quality of life, more than four out of five Bulgarians own their own home without a mortgage.
Two thirds of Bulgarians report difficulties in making ends meet, according to the survey carried out by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

More than four out of five Bulgarians cannot afford a week's annual holiday, it says. Yet, a surprisingly low (5%) have difficulties in footing utility bills, which is close to the average levels in the former EU15 countries.
Bulgarians also rate the quality of housing and the local environment higher than in the other EU candidate countries Romania and Turkey, experts from the surveying body explained.

More about the findings of the report will be presented by the Foundation's director, Jorma Karppinen, at a press conference on March 21, in Sofia's Hilton Hotel.
The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions is a tripartite EU body, whose role is to provide key actors in social policymaking with findings, knowledge and advice drawn from comparative research.