All customs ‘must be controlled’

He added that the Constanţa port ‘should be, and is a priority’.

Traian Basescu said that the measures that have been taken regarding the Romanian customs have been noted in the report of the European Commission as a success of NAD’s activity.

More raids took place at the Romanian border crossing points, following which police officers and customs officials have been detained.

They are accused by NAD prosecutors that between November 2010 and January 2011 they claimed and received sums of money as bribes to overlook crimes and not report any irregularity that might have occurred when crossing the state border of Romania.

The labor market in Romania, ‘very rigid’

President Traian Băsescu told at a press conference that the labour market in Romania is ‘very rigid’, noting that it is essential to adopt the new Labour Code in order to increase labour productivity. He said that labour productivity in Romania is only 45 percent of the productivity of EU-15.

The President said that on the other hand U.S. productivity is much higher than that of the EU’.

Traian Basescu stressed the fact that every year in America people work five weeks more that people in Europe.

The president also referred to the attractiveness of the region in Europe where Romania is located, noting that it is low in terms of labor productivity.

On Wednesday the Government discussed a draft amendment to the Labour Code and intends to meet in a special session next month to approve the document, also waiting for the approval of the Economic and Social Council and the Legislative Council.

President Traian Basescu stressed that he is ‘a supporter’ of passing the new Labour Code by assuming responsibility, as it will be adopted by the government.

Translated by: Iris Butnariu
MTTLC, Bucharest University