Brussels, 06/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - During the debate they held on the theme "British and Belgian views on national and European policy: different strategies, common strategies?" (see EUROPE of 28 October, p.16), the Ministers for Social Affairs from Britain, Alistair Darling and the Belgium Franck Vandenbroucke (who will chaired the Social Council in the second quarter of 2001) both felt that the highest priority was present the fight against social exclusion, and that the best protection against this exclusion would be to have jobs. They insisted on the importance of sustainable pension systems: pensioners should benefit from a decent revenue in order not to be excluded from society. For Alistair Darling "it is necessary to build an active welfare State to guarantee work to those who are able to work and security for those who cannot work or are pensioners", through a long-term pension systems.
Franck Vandenbroucke explained that "a well organised social protection creates social capital, which forms a basis for a more competitive knowledge based society". "Employment and social protection go hand in hand", continued the Belgian Minister for whom it is now necessary to "firm up in reality our statement and principals". The Minister hopes that the Nice Summit will adopt a European Social Agenda, will make efficient and operational the open method of coordination in the social sector, and define the aims - decent housing, decent revenue, access to health care and education helping social exclusion. Mr Vandenbroucke is certain that an agreement will be reached on the Commission recommendation relating to structural indicators during the Employment Summit, which will take place in March 2001 in Stockholm. He expects progress on the pensions dossier during the same year, 2001, mainly thanks to the work provided by the High Level group on social protection. "It is for each Member States to decide on the type of pensions system it wants, and the way it wants to ensure its financing, however the ideal being to have a pensions system on which we are agreed". "Our first task will thus be to establish common objectives such as the adequacy of pensions, solidarity within the pensions systems, gender equality, sustainability etc. We must also start active cooperation through which we can learn the good practices of other Member states", he concluded.