The Bulgarian and Macedonian monthly incomes were among the lowest in the Balkan region, Skopje officials said.

Macedonia’s average reached 255 euro. According to local media, the figure was higher only than the payment that workers in Bulgaria got.

Though Bulgaria became EU member state in the beginning of 2007, its average is only 180 euro, Macedonian television channel A1 reported.

According to the latest data of the Macedonian Statistical Institute monthly income has increased from January 2006 to January 2007.

Upon its EU accession Bulgaria became one of the member countries having the lowest income levels and economists said that European averages would take long time to achieve.