WRITTEN QUESTION E-0522/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Lower employers' contributions.
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: State aid, Sweden, employment policy, older worker, social policy, social security, wage cost, working population

C 187 E/228

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

recognition, more systematic involvement of the professional organisations and encouragement for the
development of common platforms such as the one set up by the EFG should ensure a greater measure of
automatic recognition of professional qualifications within the Community.

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.
(2) Case C-340/89, Vlassopoulou, ECR I-2357.
(3) COM(2001) 79, followed by a second Communication adopted by the Commission on 28 February 2001 and
entitled (cid:145)New European Labour Markets, Open to all, with Access for All(cid:146), available in English on the Commission(cid:146)s
site at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/empl&esf/news/labour.pdf.

(2001/C 187 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0522/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Lower employers(cid:146) contributions

A political party in Sweden has suggested that lower employers(cid:146) contributions could be introduced for
everyone over the age of 57 in Sweden. Employers(cid:146) contributions for those over 57 could be lowered by
10 per cent to encourage employers to recruit older workers.

In the light of previous discussions in Sweden when employers in northern Sweden had their reduction of
contributions withdrawn as it was considered detrimental
the
Commission say whether it is possible for a Member State unilaterally to lower employers(cid:146) contributions
for a particular age-group on its national labour market?

to internal market competition, will

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2001)

The Commission is in favour of the objective to increase labour market participation for so called (cid:145)older
workers(cid:146) and to promote active ageing. This objective has also been enshrined in Council Decision 2001/
63/EC of 19 January 2001 on guidelines for Member States(cid:146) employment policies for the year 2001 (1),
guideline 3 of which stipulates that Member States will develop policies for active ageing with the aim of
enhancing the capacity of, and incentives for, older workers to remain in the labour force as long as
possible, in particular by reviewing tax and benefit systems in order to reduce disincentives and make it
more attractive for older workers to continue participating in the labour market. Furthermore, guideline 12
asks Member States to reduce non-wage labour costs for specific target groups. The measure described by
the Honourable Member appears to be in line with these objectives provided that it is implemented
horizontally across all sectors of the economy, so as not to favour specific sectors or companies.

In its notice on monitoring of State aid and reduction of labour costs (2), the Commission has clarified that
measures targeted at certain categories of employees do not constitute State aid within the meaning of
Article 87 (ex-Article 92) (1) EC Treaty, provided that they apply automatically over the whole Member
State without discrimination between firms. Under the latter conditions, a reduction of employer(cid:146)s
contributions for older workers would therefore not fall under the State aid rules.

Finally, the Commission reiterates that responsibility for the design and financing of social protection
systems lies with the Member States (Council Recommendation 92/442/EEC of 27 July 1992 on the
convergence of social protection objectives and policies (3)).

(1) OJ L 22, 24.1.2001.
(2) OJ C 1, 3.1.1997.
(3) OJ L 245, 26.8.1992.