Press Review - March 27, 2017

03.27.2017 By Oana Gavrila

Dragnea Wants to Negotiate Foreign Intelligence Chief Appointment With President

Social Democratic Party leader Liviu Dragnea said it would be fair to have honest negotiations with president Klaus Iohannis on the appointment of a new chief to the Foreign Intelligence Service.

He added a political balance between the foreign and domestic secret service is a good principle and the party would not approve of Dacian Ciolos being appointed to the post.

“I don't want to put any pressure.

I believe the principle of political balance between the two services has been a good one. I know the president has said this principle has not always been observed in recent years but that doesn't mean we need to continue this wrong course of action,” said Dragnea.

 

Over 1,000 Certified Producers in Bistrita-Nasaud Quit Organic Farming

Bistriţa-Nasaud county has been for years second among Romanian counties after Suceava, to have the largest number of organic farming certified producers, but their number has dropped drastically in the past two years.

Over one thousand certified producers have quit organic farming, renouncing state subsidies due to excessive bureaucracy and the non-competitive prices and shorter shelf-life of their own products.

In 2014, Bistrita-Nasaud county had 1,676 certified organic farmers but their numbers dropped to just 615 by the end of 2016. Last year, organic farmers in the county received over RON10 million in subsidies.

 

Constructexpo: Materials, Labor Costs to Raise Housing Construction Prices in 2017

Exhibitors at the Constructexpo construction fair in Bucharest warn prices of construction materials have grown 25-30% on average, while the minimum wage hike raises the cost of labor, driving housing construction prices up in 2017.

Staples of construction such as reinforced concrete, cement and sheet metal are 30% more expensive than in 2016. Also, materials such as tiling, carpentry, woodwork and ironwork will be 20% more expensive this year, due to a price hike in raw materials, constructors said.

Moreover, the minimum wage, a relevant indicator in constructions and the production of materials, grew 16% in February and will grow another again in July, reaching a hike of 35% in summer 2017 compared with summer 2016, raising labor costs.

 

Bucharest Among Top Ten Cheapest Cities in the World

Bucharest is among the world's top ten cheapest cities to live in, according to a ranking by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Even though the cost of living is relatively low, some products are cheaper in other cities than in Bucharest, as Bucharest has the most expensive cigarettes and gasoline among the ten.

The Romanian capital city is on a par with Kiev and New Delhi, but the cost of living in Bucharest is higher than in Mumbai, Alger or Karachi.

 

Labor Minister Says Doctors to Earn Up to EUR3,600 in 2018

Labor minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu said the salary of an intensive care doctor will reach up to EUR3,600 in 2018, and the highest public sector wage will be that of the country's president, of RON18,000.

She said wage hikes will be operated gradually until 2020.