Less than 10 percent of Czechs expect their standard of living to improve after joining the European Union in May, according to an opinion poll Friday.

More than 40 percent said they expected a deterioration in standards after EU entry, while the same percentage believed no change would occur, according to a survey by the Centre for Public Opinion Research (CVVM).

The poll found that less than 30 percent of Czechs consider their family's current living standards to be good.

Almost 60 percent of respondents said they found it difficult to make ends meet on their income.

Most respondents did not expect any improvement in their situation after the Czech Republic joins the EU on May 1. Others believed things would get worse.

Compared to previous polls, the number of pessimists has grown but an even higher growth was registered in the number of people who expect no change, said the CVVM.

Almost 50 percent of respondents assessed their living standards as neither good nor bad, according to the research centre.

More than 20 percent of respondents said they were not satisfied with their living standards and almost 30 percent described their households as poor. Only five percent of respondents considered themselves to be rich.

Almost 60 percent said they had difficulties living on their income, while more than 30 percent said that they had experienced a very difficult financial situation over the last year.