Brussels, 12/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 11 November, in Brussels, MEPs adopted a report setting out initiatives with a view to improving job prospects in the EU for young and old, and so reduce the costs of funding social security and pensions. Initiatives - asked of the European Commission, Council and member states - related to the need to put a “European Youth Guarantee” in place, a “Fifty-plus” employment pact initiative and for the year 2012 to become the “European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations”. The report by Thomas Mann (EPP, Germany) on the demographic challenge and solidarity between generations was adopted by 440 to 122 and 43 abstentions.
The “European Youth Guarantee” should allow the young, after a maximum period of 4 months, to be offered a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training. The “Fifty-plus” employment pact initiative should increase the share of the workforce aged over 50 to 55%, eliminate early retirement incentives, combat age-based discrimination and develop incentives and opportunities for workers over the age of 60 to pass on their knowledge and experience.
Albeit pleased with the voting results, Thomas Mann bemoaned the fact that a majority of MEPs had supported the idea of new provisions against discrimination on access to goods and services, as “many older people face discrimination when trying to purchase insurance, holidays or car rentals”. He added that further anti-discrimination provisions would lead to greater bureaucracy and put a brake on growth which is needed to overcome the crisis.
AGE Platform Europe and the European Youth Forum welcomed the EP's call in favour of greater solidarity and cooperation between generations, a key issue if solutions to the demographic challenge are to be found (G.B./transl.jl)