BAKGRUNN (fra Kommisjonens pressemelding, 16.2.2012)

EU sets out plans for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions

Brussels, 16 February 2012 – Pensions are the main income source for around a quarter of the EU's population today and younger Europeans will also come to rely on pensions later in their lives. Unless Europe delivers on decent pensions now and in the future, millions will face poverty in old age. Europe is also ageing as people live longer and have fewer children. From next year, the EU's working population will already start to shrink. Pensions are putting increased financial pressure on national budgets, especially with the added strain of the financial and economic crisis. To support these efforts, the European Commission has published a White Paper on adequate, safe and sustainable pensions. It looks at how the EU and the Member States can work to tackle the major challenges that confront our pension systems. It puts forward a range of initiatives to help create the right conditions so that those who are able can continue working - leading to a better balance between time in work and time in retirement; to ensure people who move to another country can keep their pension rights; to help people save more and ensure that pension promises are kept and people get what they expect in retirement.

Presenting the White Paper to the press in Brussels, Commissioner László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, said: "Ensuring adequate pensions for the future is possible if we follow through on our commitments to reform. The impact of ageing is upon us - the baby-boomers are retiring and fewer youngsters are entering the labour market. But it isn't too late to meet these challenges”. The Commissioner added that raising retirement ages was important saying that a recent Eurobarometer survey shows many Europeans would stay in the labour market even beyond their pension age if the conditions are right.

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