Following the publication of its recommendations to Member States for economic and social reform, the European Commission defended itself last Thursday from wanting to step onto national toes: Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, spokesperson for the European Commission pointed out that: "There is increasing consensus in France and in other member States regarding the need for reform. The recommendations come under the European economic governance system, desired and adopted by all member States, including France”, in response to François Hollande who on Wednesday observed that "the Commission shouldn't dictate" to France what it "should do". (Ref. 130358)
Pensions. The French President nevertheless has reason to be irritated. The recommendations published by the Brussels Executive highlight that the pensions system will once again be in deficit in 2018, calling for further reform, whereas François Hollande was re-elected on the pledge to reconsider the 2010 pensions reform and to bring retirement age back down to 60. “It could in particular be envisaged to further raise the minimum retirement age and the legal age for a full pension, as well as the required duration for contributions in order to benefit from a full pension, to adapt the indexing rules and to re-examine the many exceptions to the general regime for some categories of workers”, states the European Commission document.
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