Brussels, 02/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Local and regional public authorities are the biggest employer in Europe and do not want the debate on pension reform to be limited to a purely financial discussion, which conceals the social issues. These authorities want to reaffirm the importance of solidarity in the pension systems balance. This is the opinion put forward by Mia De Vits (PES, Belgium) and adopted by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Friday 28 January. This goes further than the proposals contained in a report presented to the EP's employment and social affairs committee on Tuesday 1st February, notes the CoR in a press release.
Mia De Vits recognises that “pension systems can be an important tool in comprehensive public systems”. She considers that “public systems must continue to play a crucial role in guaranteeing an appropriate income for every pensioner: they are testimony to the solidarity between workers and pensioners, which is at the heart of the European social model”. Particularly with regard to the method employed, representatives from the cities and regions are telling the Commission “that the measures it will have to take in this arena should be accompanied by appropriate impact studies, which also include the repercussions on the local and regional authorities”. (G.B./transl.fl)