Highest pensions and sickness benefits for Poles in 2001, says Eurostat office

According to the EU statistical office Eurostat, in 2001, Poland recorded the highest pensions and sickness benefits of the entire Vysehrad Group. The report published by Eurostat on Monday, says that in 2001, the average pension in Poland reached EUR 248 monthly whereas in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Lithuania it was EUR 196, EUR 150, EUR 124 and EUR 87 respectively. At the same time, the average Polish gross salary stood at EUR 562 per month. To compare, in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Lithuania it amounted to EUR 440, EUR 404, EUR 286 and EUR 274 respectively. The average payment for European Union countries has not been included in the report however among the EU aspiring countries Malta recorded the highest pension amounting to EUR 805 in 1998. (Gazeta Wyborcza p.4) A.Z.