WRITTEN QUESTION E-0223/03 by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Increased life expectancy: women beyond retirement.
Date: 2003-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, gender equality, pension scheme, population ageing, position of women, poverty, social integration

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/199

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2003)

The Commission is extremely conscious of the need to ensure that all aspects of the Community labour
law acquis, not least that relating to the protection of young people,
is implemented and effectively
enforced in the candidate countries. The Commission is currently actively engaged in ensuring that Council
Directive 94/33/EC of 22 June 1994 on the protection of young people at work (1) is implemented in the
candidate countries at the earliest possible date and, at the latest, by the date of their accession to the
Union.

Ongoing monitoring has shown that the Community ‘acquis’ in this field had already been transposed in
the majority of candidate countries. Of the ten future Member States, only the Czech Republic, Estonia and
Slovenia have not introduced legislation to transpose the Directive on young people at work.

It should be noted that, according to Article 32 of the Charter, ‘The employment of children is prohibited’.

(1) OJ L 216, 20.8.1994.

(2003/C 161 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0223/03

by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Increased life expectancy: women beyond retirement

(3 February 2003)

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.

C 161 E/200

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

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 (cid:1) 60 % by 2010 (cid:1) 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.

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

(1)
(2) COM(2002) 737 final.
(3) COM(2003) 6 final.

(2003/C 161 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0239/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Budget overruns in construction of Attiki Odos motorway

(28 January 2003)

Will the Commission say what appropriations were earmarked for the construction of the Attiki Odos
motorway? What budget overruns have been noted to date (in total and by sector) and what are the
reasons for those overruns?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2003)

The Attiki Odos measure is included in the Operational Program ‘Road Axes-Ports-Urban Development
2000-2006’, and is a major project as defined in Articles 25 and 26 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/
1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1).

The allocation under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for this project is EUR 476 million
for the period 2000-2006, corresponding to a public expenditure of EUR 951 million and a total cost,
including private contribution, of EUR 1 713 million. There is no possibility to increase the ERDF
contribution during the period.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.