AGE member organisations – representing both current pensioners and older workers – are worried about the potential consequences of the current financial and economic crisis on the long-term sustainability of their national pension systems. To voice their concerns and contribute to the debate on the post-Lisbon Strategy and the future Social Agenda, AGE published in October 2009 a new Statement on pensions reform: “Ensuring adequate pensions in the EU - a shared responsibility for society“.
At a time when EU governments are looking for solutions to accommodate the impact of the crisis, AGE members would like them to address not only the issue of the long-term sustainability of the national pension systems but also of their adequacy. Consequently, AGE reiterates with new urgency their call for:
- A balanced and diversified pension architecture with a particular emphasis on adequate and reliable statutory schemes (the so-called first pillar);
- Strengthened security for individual entitlements in funded pension schemes;
- Measures to facilitate the retention of older workers in their jobs and access to quality employment for those seeking work;
- Specific attention to be paid to address the existing gender inequalities in old-age income and avoid creating new sources of inequalities for future cohorts; and
- Support to individuals with shorter or atypical employment careers to help them build sufficient pension rights.
It is also time to promote solidarity between and within generations to cope with the long-term sustainability and adequacy of pension systems. Ultimately, solidarity brings an added value to society in terms of fairer wealth distribution, reinforced social cohesion and broader transfer of knowledge.
AGE Statement on Pensions - October 2009
Mise à jour le Vendredi, 16 Avril 2010 16:56
