WRITTEN QUESTION E-0223/03

by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Increased life expectancy: women beyond retirement

The 65-and-over age group represents 16 % of the total EU population. Since 60 % of that age group are women, one can say that women have a longer life expectancy than men. In other words, there are more women than men in the 65-and-over age group, and especially in the very oldest age groups (72 % of over-85s are women).

This imbalance has repercussions in several areas. Firstly, the composition of households is altered since, from a certain age onwards, far more women than men live alone. In 1998, 45 % of women aged 65 and over were living alone, as opposed to only 17 % of men. Secondly, the relative income level of elderly people varies according to their sex. In 1997, women's average income was 10 % lower than that of men in the same age group and around 20 % lower than the average income of the under-65s. Moreover, the average income of women living alone was 20 % lower than that of women living with another person. The gap was considerably smaller in the case of men.

In conclusion, women over the age of 65 run a far greater risk of falling into poverty.

In the light of Articles 21, 23 and 25 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, how will the Commission guarantee European citizens the right to grow old with dignity in circumstances where women are not socially marginalised?

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

The fact that elderly women are at greater risk of poverty and social exclusion, as noted by the Honourable Member, has been highlighted by the Commission in the European social inclusion process(1) and the more recent analysis of the national pensions systems(2).

There is a wide range of underlying factors. Reducing this exposure to poverty and social exclusion thus requires multi-dimensional approaches, both remedial and preventive.

In the field of pensions, to which the open method of coordination was applied for the first time in 2002, the joint objectives include promoting equality between men and women. The Commission's review shows that the differences in the levels of pension received by men and women particularly reflect differences in their occupational pathways. However, the Commission notes that the Member States are gradually adapting their pension systems to the changes in the socio-economic roles of men and women, working towards greater equality, especially by giving better recognition to atypical employment for pensions purposes.

As regards employment, the Commission's Communication on the future of the European Employment Strategy(3) proposes intensifying efforts to reduce structural inequalities between men and women on the labour market and promoting conditions which make it easier for both men and women to reconcile work and family life. Quantified objectives are set for women's employment rates 60 % by 2010 and for childcare services.

The open method of coordination on social inclusion enables the Member States, with active support from the Commission, to advance together towards jointly formulated objectives, exchanging best practice. At the Commission's suggestion, the Council has integrated the gender dimension more fully in the set of joint objectives on which the 2003 National Action Plans will be based.

The Commission considers that the action described above contributes effectively, within the limits of the Union's powers in this area, to promoting application of the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights referred to by the Honourable Member.

(1) Joint Report on Social Inclusion (Commission and Council 2001), COM(2001) 565 final.

(2) COM(2002) 737 final.

(3) COM(2003) 6 final.