On 11th of March, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Ageing successfully re-launched its activities with a meeting dedicated to the preparation of the Spring Summit 2003.
Around 20 MEPs were present to hear presentations and to discuss on the Commission’s proposals on pensions and employment of older workers. At the end of the meeting, MEPs adopted a statement to the Spring Summit, which stresses the need for a coherent approach on ageing issues at EU level and a better mainstreaming of these questions in all EU policies, including social policies. They also call on Commission and Council to give a real voice to the European Parliament in the Open Method of Coordination, especially on social protection matters.
According to Mrs Sanders (ELDR, Netherlands), one of the co-President of the Intergroup, "this method sounds friendly, but clearly leaves the European Parliament behind. National and European Parliaments need to express their opinion on these questions. They have to be heard".
Please find the statement below.
