Activities of Frédéric DAERDEN related to 2010/2239(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Adequate, sustainable and safe European pension systems (debate)
Amendments (70)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 (new)
Citation -1 (new)
- having regard to the horizontal social clause in Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs under Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (A7-0000/2010),
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas people are nowadays entering the labour force at a later age due to longer and, for some, higher education, on average people leave the labour market earlier than the legal pension age, and longevity is increasingtheir working lives are punctuated by periods away from work, and they live longer,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas current data show that the number of people entering the labour market is declining (the EU population of a working age will start to shrink from 2012) and the number of pensioners is rising (in 2008 there will bere four EU citizens of working age for every one aged 65 or over, by 2020 this figure will be five to one, and by 2060 two to one); whereas this trend varies depending on demographic differences between Member States,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the financial crisis has led to a growth in unemployment, rising budget deficits in many Member States and problems in the financing of pensions (whether tax or otherwise funded), and has demonstrated the fragility of certain pension fund systems,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the goal of a 75% employment rate laid down in the EU2020 Strategy should help secure the sustainability of pension systems,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas a pension is a resource that lasts until the end of the insured person’s life, and not simply a method of capital formation,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the increasing prevalence of interim or precarious jobs is reducing contributions to pension systems and damaging the stability of those systems and the adequacy of future pensions,
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Appreciates the holistic approach adopted by the Green Paper, which is intended to impart fresh impetus at national and EU level with the aim of safeguarding old-age pensions; notes, however, the restrictive conclusions regarding retirement age and the prominence given to the different pillars;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that Member States have to tackle both problems of common concern and those arising from very different socioeconomic and legal conditions, and face enormous challenges in ensuring that pensions meet citizens’ expectations;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Sorely misses any mention of SMEs, which are one of the main sources of employment in the EU and can, must and wish to make a major contribution to the sustainability and adequacy of pension systems by creating intersectoral or territorial funds capable of establishing a link between SMEs; stresses that the creation of such intersectoral or territorial funds would make it possible to affiliate temporary workers and thus make them more fully involved in financing pension systems;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Observes that sound economic and social policies make an important contribution to growth, notably by preserving social cohesion and consumption, to growth, job creation and stability;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that long-term investment in pension systems requires a positive approach as part of economic governance and more particularly in the Stability and Growth Pact, and in the European Union’s financial and corporate governance legislation;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that pensions and pension systems are and will continue to be a primary responsibility of the Member States;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that pensions and pension systems are a primary responsibility of the Member States; however, since the challenges and concerns as to their sustainability and adequacy are shared by all of the EU, considers it helpful to lay down some minimal common guidelines and a fully coordinated approach, so as to guide and promote more adequate and sustainable pension systems throughout the EU;
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that the increase insetting the retirement age needs to be correlated with life expectancy and working conditionsis an issue to be addressed according to the subsidiarity principle considering the variety of national, demographic and labour force situations, and taking into account life expectancy and working conditions among other factors; is of the opinion, however, that Member States should coordinate to the fullest possible extent their pension policy strategy, using, if appropriate, the Open Method of Coordination;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that pay-as-you-go systems are those most based on solidarity as they guarantee equal access to entitlements for both sexes, for different categories of workers and for pensioners who devoted part of their career to taking care of dependents;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Observes that the EU lacks a set of common criteria and definitions which illuminate the various pension systems and their capacity to meet the needs of citizens, and that there is therefore a lack of transparent supervision applicable to all systems; stresses that the EU should primarily enhance the comparability of pension schemes and promote exchange of good practices.
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers that the European Union, in accordance with its Charter of Fundamental Rights and particularly Article 23 thereof, should adopt framework principles to ensure that women have access to a decent pension;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers that the gender gap in pensions is the result of persistent inequalities on the labour market, such as the gender pay gap, the over- representation of women in precarious and part-time jobs and obstacles to combining professional and private life; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to continue their efforts to eradicate these inequalities and thus ensure long-term equal treatment for men and women with respect to pensions;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Considers that gender impact studies should be carried out to ensure that gender equality is at the core of any proposal on pension systems in Europe;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls for positive criteria to be used in calculating women's pensions, so as to ensure that the caring role they play receives due recognition;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers that the demographic challenge and pressure from the increasing ageing of the European population are also largely due to the current low birth rates; therefore believes that it should be a priority to opt for public policies to encourage the birth rate throughout the EU; to this end sees a need to strengthen support for mothers and the commitment to their inclusion in the employment market on equal terms, for reasons of both economic efficiency and social justice, backing up such measures with an integrated effort to create an employment market that will facilitate the work-life balance;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9b (new)
Paragraph 9b (new)
9b. Notes that many European citizens, particularly young people, are joining and even staying in the employment market as a result of the grant system, and regrets that this is still excluded from social security contributions;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Does not consider it possible to set an adequate pension at European level, because the amount required is very dependent on specific circumstances in the Member States; calls, however, on the Union to come up with criteria that make it possible for each Member State to establish a set of criteria to guarantee a minimum level of pensions;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers that assessment of the adequate minimum pension level in each Member State should also take account of the conditions of access to, and the quality and sufficient funding of, social services of general interest, especially social housing, and the cost of healthcare and of caring for dependent persons, so as to safeguard the dignity of older people;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that adequacy has to be guaranteed by the stability of public pension systems, by their fairness and by solidarity between genders and generations, and considers that it may be useful, at the same time, to introduce contractual generalization under the second pillar and tax incentives under the second and third pillar; these measures must be taken at the same time;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that Member States are themselves responsible for making adequate pension provision for their citizens as part of their social and economic policies, at least maintaining pensions above the poverty threshold;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that, within the diversity of pension systems and economic situations in Member States at different times, the general systems (first pillar) combined withsupplemented by a work-related systems (second pillar) afford the best guarantee ofor an adequate pension provisionscheme, provided that the second pillar is generally introduced and managed jointly;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that the financial organisation of pension systems and retirement schemes can also be improved if the Member States significantly increase the level of employment, by measures adapted to all social groups (young people, the elderly, women and the unemployed) and at the same time take steps to prevent job insecurity and combat undeclared labour;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the Member States to consider whether the pension systems and retirement schemes in place can be funded solely by the groups of people at present involved and, if need be, to ascertain whether other forms of revenue, for instance from capital or rental income, should not be taken into account to fund social security systems;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that the sustainability and adequacy of pension systems are certainly also affected by the third pillar, namely individual savings, facilitated or otherwise;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that national budgets are under severe pressure and that many Member States are reviewing the efficiency of expenditure; calls on Member States toConsiders that in view of the current budgetary pressure social spending has played a significant economic and social role in softening the effect of the crisis; considers introducing compensation so that all taxpayers who cannot achieve the level of ambition in the first and second pillars are entitled to a supplementary offset of pension contributions in the second pillar or of contributions to private pension schemes in the this regard that pay-as-you- go schemes have demonstrated their fundamental role in creating solidarity within and between generations; also considers that the second and third pillar; notes that this could also help Member States to establish a three-pillar structureve a supplementary role to play in this regard;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Points out that because of the financial crisis, several Member States are planning to introduce changes to their pension systems; urges them, however, to ensure that pension systems remain stable, reliable and sustainable, and that all changes are made after adequate social dialogue and on the basis of the provision of sufficient information; advocates that, if choices can be made by employees, enough time should be provided for them to make informed and well thought-out decisions;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that inflation and speculation damages the sustainability and adequacy of pension systems;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Points out that postponing the statutory retirement age would to a large extent only displace the pressure on national budgets, from the pensions heading to that for unemployment benefits or the minimum wage;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Observes that budgetary consolidation in the Member States must not result in cuts in social security systems and pensions;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Considers that tax evasion has become a worrying phenomenon and must be combated as effectively as possible, because it undermines the future adequacy and stability of pension systems;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Points out that the spread of interim or precarious jobs may have a harmful impact on the adequacy and stability of pensions, particularly for young people, who often have breaks in their careers and contribution paths;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that, in view of demographic trends, and the consequent need to ensure that pensions can be paid for, are not uniform throughout the European Union; but believes it is necessary for more people to participate in the labour market and to do so for longer; observes that life expectancy is growing and calls on Member States to consider linking the statutory retirement age to life expectancy, which requires a concerted effort in terms of combating unemployment, achieving a proper work-life balance and addressing immigration;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Opposes any automatic adjustment of the age of entitlement to retirement pensions following the future trend in life expectancy and harmonisation of the statutory retirement age;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Considers that in view of the demographic challenge Member States should together consider, as part of the open method of coordination, the desirability of each of them establishing new sources of funding for public pension schemes beyond the work-related resources;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that there are major disparities in the statutory retirement age and in the actual age at which older people cease to be employed; observes that these disparities are especially salient for employees in the most onerous occupational categories; calls on Member States and the two sides of industry, therefore, to exchange information about good experiences and to conclude agreements leading to a prolongation of working life, for example by rewarding people who work for longerparticularly for those employees with the most burdensome and physically demanding jobs; observes in this context that it would be reasonable for Member States to reward people who work for longer, but stresses that any reward system must be fair and balanced, fully taking into account the varying conditions for working until a late age across Member States;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that there are major disparities in the statutory retirement age and in the actual age at which older people cease to be employed; calls on Member States and the two sides of industry, therefore, to exchange information about good experiences and to conclude agreements leading to athe voluntary prolongation of working life, for example by rewarding people who work for longer and by penalising companies which make older workers redundant before the statutory retirement age; calls on the Commission to run information campaigns for citizens, and more particularly for management and human resource managers, to counteract the mistaken idea that experienced workers are less productive; calls for the maintenance of, if not an increase in, the funding for lifelong learning programmes in future proposals for the EU’s annual budget;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Notes that working life should not only be prolonged at both ends, but also in the middle; stresses that employment and decent work are the best tools for prolonging careers;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that, for older employees performing physically and/or mentally demanding work, a labour market geared to flexibility and security must offer older employees creative solutions such as greater flexibility in the statutory retirement age, part-time pensions or adapted working conditions, with the emphasis on ability to work, to strike a lasting balance between the requirements of employment and the capacities of workers; considers there to be a need for an active policy to prevent discrimination on grounds of age; considers that particular attention must be paid to the extent to which work is physically or mentally demanding when calculating the years of pensionable service required for a full pension;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that, for older employees performing physically and/or mentally demanding work, a labour market geared to flexibility and security must offer creative solutions such as greater flexibility in the statutory retirement age, part-time pensions or adapted working conditions, with the emphasis on ability to work, to strike a lasting balance between the requirements of employment and the capacities of workers; considers there to be a need for an active policy to prevent discrimination on grounds of age; observes furthermore that reductions in earned income, breaks in gainful employment, for example for purposes of education or to act as a carer, qualification measures and unemployment arising through no fault of one’s own, must be taken into greater account as prime causes of the risk of poverty in old age;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Regrets that the 2020 Strategy devotes no explicit attention to decent, sustainable and adequate pension systems;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that, if the 2020 Strategy is successful, this will mean that more people are in work and a strong labour market policy is pursued, this will mean that more people are employed in jobs which entail payment of compulsory social security contributions and are not precarious and that economic growth will benefit from this, thus enhancing the sustainability of pension systems;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Supports, in accordance with the 2020 Strategy, a targeted and active labour market policy which will lead to increased participation in employment on the part of older workers, women, members of minority groups, young people making the transition from school to work, disabled people and the long-term unemployed;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Supports, in accordance with the 2020 Strategy, a targeted and active labour market policy which will lead to increased participation in employment on the part of older workers, women, young people, members of minority groups and the long- term unemployed;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Considers that pension schemes cannot serve as adjustment variables to meet the objectives of the stability and growth pact and that the aim of any reform of pension schemes should be to preserve their long-term sustainability;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Considers it a relevant point that the Member States should manage to safeguard an adequate level of pay, as laid down in the EU 2020 Strategy, since adequate pay levels, through their respective contributions, also help to safeguard adequate pension schemes;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Considers that the Ecofin Council cannot pre-empt the debate on the future of pensions from the short-term point of view of bringing public finances back into balance;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Considers that, because of the diversity and complexity of the various second-pillar systems, conditions need to be laid down concerning the portability of acquired pension entitlements in the sense that portability begins when new contracts are concluded, an application for transfer being approved only if the actuarial sum transferred is to be placed in a fund whose purpose is payment of old-age pensions; considers that tax must be calculated and paid in the Member State where the entitlements have been accumulated; with regard to cross-border issues, the clear focus of EU activity should be on developing minimum standards for the acquisition and preservation of pension rights and on facilitating the establishment of national tracking systems for those rights;
Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes that in many Member States the importance of second-pillar pension provision has been recognised, and that it must also bethe EU can add value by providing coordination between the various schemes and encouraging Member States to ensured that such provision meets European conditions and criteria applicable to second-pillar provisa framework is in place which adequately protects pension plan members and guarantees access to pension information;
Amendment 388 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers that the second pillar must be available to all employees by right, without any discrimination on grounds of sex, age, sector and/or employment contract;
Amendment 399 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to investigate how employees’ right to participate in the second pillar can be facilitated and to make proposals, through enhanced social dialogue, for developing such a pillar where it does not yet exist and a method of governance to ensure that it is managed jointly, particularly with regard to its savings investment strategy;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Points out that some pension funds have short-term profit strategies which destroy jobs and thus create difficulties in funding the pension schemes; therefore stresses the need for pension funds to change their investment strategy and make socially responsible investments in the real economy;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27b (new)
Paragraph 27b (new)
27b. Stresses that solvency supervision of pension funds must be based on risks and must require prudence in all cases and at all levels;
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Member States to support the development of a social dialogue in the field of old-age pension provision and to take full account of the results of this dialogue;
Amendment 409 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Member States to support the development of a social and civic dialogue in the field of old-age pension provision;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that the EU rules concerning the third pillar and its smooth cross-border functioning must be examined in the light of the proper functioning of the internal market, particularly for financial products, and the creation of a level playing field; underlines that this re- examination of the rules must take account of the interests of members of pension schemes;
Amendment 432 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Is concerned about the inadequate information provided to the public by public authorities and bodies administering pensions concerning the necessity, possibilities, accumulated entitlements, likely results and actual state of affairs with regard to old-age pensions; calls on the Commission and Member States to launch campaigns to enable and encourage members of the public to take measures to ensure adequate pension provision for themselves;
Amendment 442 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Considers that the information provided to individual members of the public in Member States and by funds concerning the accumulated entitlements commonly recorded in a national pensions register should be more transparent, accessible and linked at European level;
Amendment 446 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Considers that, w members of then pension provision is reublic must be promptly and fully informed, or when there is a changeover from a promisedf the consequences of a reform of pension to a promvised pension arrangemeion, particularly concerning the amount, or from a final salary to a mean salary system, the public must be promptly and fully informed of the consequencesf their own pension and the total number of years of pension contributions due;
Amendment 450 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Considers that, when pension provision is reformed, or when there is a changeover from a promised pension to a promised pension arrangement, or from a final salary to a mean salary system, the public must be promptly and fully informed of the long- term consequences;
Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Considers that, in the further debate on an adequate, safe and sustainable pension system, it would be helpful to establish a pensions platform on which stakeholdinvolving representatives of EU institutions, the social partners arend represented whlevant stakeholders to contribute information about best practices and help to prepare policy initiatives;
Amendment 457 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Considers that, in the further debate on an adequate, safe and sustainable pension system, it would be helpful, while observing the principle of subsidiarity, to establish a pensions platform on which stakeholders are represented who contribute information about best practices and help to prepare policy initiatives;
Amendment 460 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Calls on the Commission to encourage an exchange between Member States of statistical methods and ways to analyse the sustainability of pension schemes to achieve better coordination in this area;