The EU's industrial heartlands, its urban regions and Germany are the biggest beneficiaries of the bloc's single market, according to a study that highlights the economic and social inequalities plaguing the bloc. The single market seeks to guarantee free movement of goods, capital, services and labour across the 28-nation EU.

A report by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that Germany, Europe's largest economy, benefited most in absolute terms from the single market, earning an extra 86 billion euros a year because of it. It found that each German was on average 1,046 euros richer as a result of single market membership, while on average EU citizens were only 840 euros richer.

Wealthy, advanced economies near the EU's economic core such as Austria and the Netherlands are also far richer as a result of being members, the report showed, while poorer southern and eastern European countries benefit far less.

Rural regions also profit less from single market membership, the report showed, while highly developed regions such as the south of England were big winners.