PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 7 July 2010
Green Paper on Pensions
The European Commission raises good questions but will Member States provide the right answers to rebuild citizens’ confidence in the pensions systems?
AGE Platform Europe welcomes the huge debate that the European Commission is launching today with its Green Paper on Pensions. In today’s context of budget consolidation, Member States are speeding up with the introduction of important reforms of their pensions systems to make these less costly for the public purse. But is this sudden rush not going to increase the feeling of insecurity and create reluctance to the proposed reforms?
“To build public support for these changes, policy makers will need to demonstrate that they are fully aware of the social impact of the reforms they propose and that they take the necessary measures to guarantee that everyone will enjoy an adequate pension in the future, including the most vulnerable”, observed Anne-Sophie Parent, Director of AGE.
“Making pensions systems financially sustainable is necessary but not enough. The reformed systems must also be socially sustainable and adequate for the long-term. This is why we welcome the focus that the Belgian Presidency is putting on the adequacy of pensions systems and we hope that this key objective will be shared by all Member States” concluded Ms Parent.
Link to Green Paper launched on 7 July 2010:
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=839&furtherNews=yes
Link to AGE contribution to the EPSCO Informal Council:
http://www.age-platform.eu/images/stories/AGE_Platform_Europe_contribution_to_EPSCO_Informal_Council_July_2010.pdf
END
Link to the press release in pdf version.
Communiqué de presse en français
Mise à jour le Vendredi, 09 Juillet 2010 11:30
