Brussels, 02/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday the European Commission is expected to adopt a communication on the agenda of the Employment and Social Policy Council on 4 March (see above) entitled "Increasing Job Opportunities for the Elderly and Deferring retirement Age". This communication aims to intensify the debate on the progress achieved in the attaining of the Stockholm and Barcelona Objectives (half of the European population is in the 55-64 age group and will be expected to continue working up to 2010) (it will be necessary to gradually increase the average age by 5 years up to 2010 of those retiring). It will also be necessary to shed some light on the role of governments and social partners in the promotion of an active old age.
The Commission notes that in 2002, the employment of elderly workers has increased by 5.4%, which has increased the rate of employment by 1.3 pints (men and women) in one year alone. Retirement age increased by 0.4 years between 2001 and 2002 in the EU as a whole, although progress was significantly varied from country to country. Despite these improvements, numerous efforts sill need to b made to attain the two objectives mentioned above, such as the employment rate for women aged 55-64, which is still only around 30%. In order to push things forward, the Commission considers that Member States have to introduce radical measures and implement strategies that attain a buoyant labour market and guarantee employability, even during periods of stagnation and slowdown in job creation. The Commission considers that a preventative approach based on the mobilisation of the full potential of the whole population has to constitute the main orientation of policies in this connection. Social partners can contribute significantly to encouraging companies to adopt a prospective approach by facilitating longer and better quality careers. The commission points out that strategies and actions at an EU level support an active old age thanks to policy coordination, exchanges of experience and best practices, as well as financial instruments.