Initiated by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions, a first survey was carried out in 12 countries asking only 20 questions. A second survey took place in January of 1996 which collated the views of 15,800 workers from the then 12 European Union Member States – face to face interviews outside the workplace. The third survey, in 2000, interviewer 21,700 Workers in all European Union member countries (c. 1500 per state, except Luxembourg which had 527) face to face in their own homes. These surveys provided an overview on the state of working conditions in the EU, as well as indicating the nature and content of changes affecting the workforce and the quality of work.