Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-10-Speech-2-327"
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"en.20040210.13.2-327"2
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"Mr President, I am delighted that the House has agreed to debate this important topic. I also hope that this is an issue on which the whole House can unite on a cross-party basis.
The subject is not just about demographic trends in general. My oral question specifically asks for more attention to be given to issues associated with ageing. Too often, ageing is just seen as a problem; it should also be seen as an opportunity. Too often, the elderly are seen as people with disabilities and with needs; they should also be seen as people with abilities and with rights.
There are many aspects to be reviewed, but in the time available I will just focus on one: the opportunity for the elderly to continue in work if that is their wish. I therefore welcome the approach taken by the Employment Task Force chaired by Wim Kok. This report refers to one of the Lisbon Council conclusions that is often overlooked, that by 2010 the target is for 50% of 55-64 year-olds to be in employment. Currently, only Sweden, Denmark, Portugal and the United Kingdom have reached this target. Belgium, Italy, France, Luxembourg and Austria have employment rates for older workers of less than 33%.
Delaying the average age at which people leave the labour force is crucial. Luxembourg, Belgium and France among the current Member States, plus Poland, Lithuania, Hungary and Slovakia among the incoming Member States all have average work exit ages well below the EU average. They will be particularly stretched to meet the agreed target and their policies will have to change radically in order to achieve it. Will they grasp the challenge?
But even the EU as it exists today will miss the 50% target unless it can increase the number of older workers in work by seven million over the next seven years. This means that two-thirds of the current 46-55 age group must still be active in the labour market in 2010. This means in turn a significant change, because only half of those in this group and in employment in 1991 were still working ten years later.
This is the reason I tabled this question. It is a matter for Member States, but the issue is: will Member States act on these employment task force conclusions within a defined and early timetable? Will the Commission put together an early progress report to present to Parliament, ideally by the end of this year? Finally, will Member States implement all the provisions on age discrimination in the employment directive without further delay? I hope the answer to all of these can be 'yes'."@en1
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