Prices are European. But what about salaries and pensions?

Alyaksandr Lukashenka touched a problem of prices during his visit to the Hrodna region. He said agricultural products prices would grow.

“Prices in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the European Union countries will be near equal. We have little lower prices today. We keep prices down, but it is wrong, it gives an opportunity to export products,“ he said. “We can’t avoid it, we will have to mark up prices of products, for they not to be illegally exported to the neighbouring countries. Whether we want it or not, the prices will be near equal – both in Russia and in the EU countries.”

It seems to be all right. Except for one thing - what about salaries and pensions? If we face European prices, we must have European salaries and pensions. But now our incomes are some times lower than those in Western Europe, “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper writes.

The average salary in Belarus for last year amounted to 700 000 rubles per month, or 350 dollars, or about 230 euro. The average salary in Germany is 2250 euro, in Sweden - 2200 euro, in France - 2100 euro, in Italy - 1600 euro, in Austria - about 2000 euro.

The average salary in Poland and Czech Republic is about 1200 dollars per month, in Lithuania – 800 dollars.

Pensions in the European Union are far larger than in our country. So, the average pension in Poland amounts to more than 500 dollars, in Germany - 1200 euro, in France - 1120 euro. The average pension in Czech Republic is 350 euro, which is expected to be increased by 18.6 euro in August. Belarusian pension amounts to about 165 dollars, or a little more than 100 euro.

But nothing concrete has been said concerning growth of salaries and pensions in the connection with price growth. Do the authorities think we must have European prices, but live on Belarusian salaries and pensions?