The Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopted a resolution which stressed that safeguarding public pensions to ensure decent living standards for all in old age must remain a priority in Europe. MEPs also emphasised that public pensions remain the most important source of income for pensioners.

The Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament adopted a resolution in response to the European Commission white paper on pensions published in February 2012, which calls for the development of supplementary pension schemes and longer working lives to ensure the sustainability of pensions threatened by demographic ageing and strained public finances.

MEPs also underlined that even in a likely long-term, low growth, economic scenario, which would require member states to consolidate their budgets, safeguarding public pensions that at least guarantee decent living standards must remain a priority. They regretted that the Commission's white paper does not properly address the importance of this “poverty-proof” pillar.

Moreover, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee also deplored the drastic cuts in the countries hardest hit by the economic crisis that have pushed many pensioners into or to the verge of poverty. MEPs also urged the Commission to ensure that the investment potential of pension funds is not jeopardised by any possible changes to pensions legislation, particularly the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP) Directive.