Most prefects, mayors, county council presidents and their deputies moved their businesses on the names of their relatives to avoid being accused of conflict of interests but they continue to do business with the state. Salaries of Romanians increased n November, for the first time in the last 8 months. Hungarian Ambassador in Romania Oskar Fuzes declared that if the EU will not expand Schengen, it will be a failure.

Gandul reads on Wednesday about mayors, prefects and county council presidents and their deputies who despite legal requirements continue to do business with the state. The newspaper reads that there are those who do business with units subordinated to them which is illegal and those who do business with public money from other institutions.

Dambovita county prefect, Iancu Caractora is one example: he is a shareholder in various companies but one company, SC Ianlux Consulting is specialized in public contracts: the company had so far 30 contracts signed and most with villages in Dambovita county. The total value of the contracts amounts to 450,000 euro.

Contacted, the prefect declared that the businesses he conducts are neither immoral nor illegal. The newspaper goes on to offer more examples of the same practice across Romania.

Elsewhere in the news, Evenimentul Zilei reads that salaries of Romanians started to increase in November, for the first time in the last eight months. The average salary gain was 1,377 lei in November 2010, registering an increase by 37 lei or 2.8% compared to the previous month, Romania’s National Statistics Institute reads.

In September and October the average salary remained unchanged, at 1,340 lei. Employees in the financial sector enjoyed the biggest salaries of 3,380 lei while employees in hotels and restaurants received 804 lei. The main cause for the salary increase in November is the occasional bonuses offered.

Romania libera reads about the statements made by Hungarian Ambassador to Bucharest Oskar Fuzes who reiterated Hungary’s commitment to do whatever it can to allow Romania and Bulgaria to join Schengen. The Hungarian official said that if Schengen will not be expanded, than it would be a failure for Europe.