"The deep differences in the wages earned by the research workers of the different EU countries is a hindrance" to EU research and "drives the best people to look for better conditions elsewhere in the world". Janez Potocnik, EU commissioner for science and research, comments the statistics of a survey conducted by the EU Executive, according to which "the average wages of a EU research worker are about 23 thousand euros a year lower than those of a US colleague". The average wages in half EU countries are around 20 to 30 thousand euros a year after tax, "remarkably lower than those of the USA, Australia, India or Japan". The survey shows "deep differences even across the EU states": from an average of 9,800 euros a year in Bulgaria to 46,500 in Switzerland". Substantial differences exist between men and women (an average difference of 35%). The Commissioner comments: "If we want the EU to be able to face tomorrow’s challenges, we have to put the research workers in a position to work, giving them wages that are adequate" and similar between countries, "so they can choose where to work" without being tempted to leave Europe.
