Romania Economy and Finance minister Varujan Vosganian said in a news conference on Thursday that by 2009-2010 severe poverty (insufficient resources to assure a person’s survival, without taking into account the natural economy resources) will be eradicated among Romanian pensioners.

Estimates are made based on a report regarding the development objectives for the next period which will be submitted to the government for debate next week. Vosganian said that in 2002 almost 2-4 million Romanians were below the level of severe poverty.

Vosganian added that for Romania, the poverty level meant a minimum wage of 32-33 euro for each family member and that the level does not take into account the natural economy resources.

Citing data from the report, Vosganian said that in 2002 2.4 million Romanians faced severe poverty.