Expensive food in Romania

The newspaper comments on high food prices in Romania: "The Romanians are paying these high prices also because of a series of mistakes in economic policy since 1989. Not even our government dared to dream that as an EU member we would have an agricultural policy that is more protectionist than that of any other EU country. The government is levying high customs to impede access for imported products on the Romanian market. Shielded from foreign competition, Romanian producers have done nothing to increase their competitiveness. They continue to produce too little, and what they do produce is overpriced and of low quality. If we did not have to pay customs we could import food for two-thirds of the current price. If you add up the cost of these protectionist measures and the costs of a splintered agriculture, it is no wonder food prices are almost on par with the EU average despite the fact that average wages in the EU are five to ten times higher than in Romania."

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