Citizens in Eastern European countries often earn four times less than in Western Europe, and almost a third of salary goes to food.
82% confidence
EconomyEurope
Omissions
The claim of 'four times less' is an approximation that can vary depending on the specific country and the type of salary (minimum vs. average); some Eastern countries have salaries 2-3 times lower, others up to 4 times lower.
The proportion of food expenditure varies considerably among Eastern European countries: while in some it exceeds 30% (Romania, Bulgaria), in others it is lower.
The MEP did not cite specific sources to support his figures.
Eurostat data on food expenditure corresponds to total household budget, not just individual salary.
Sources
PrimaryEurostat - Household consumption by purposeFood and non-alcoholic beverages expenditure varies significantly across EU, with Eastern European countries spending higher proportion of their budget on food
SecondaryETUC - Revealed: true size of EU east-west pay gapWorkers in 11 central and eastern EU countries are paid up to €944 less per month than workers in Germany when costs of living are taken into account