EN E-002015/2022 Answer given by Mr Schmit on behalf of the European Commission (29.7.2022)

In line with the Treaties , the EU shall support and complement the activities of Member States in social security and social protection of workers, while ensuring the right of Member States to define the fundamental principles of their social security systems is not affected. Currently, the Commission supports and complements the activities of the Member States to protect older people against poverty and social exclusion and maintain their living standards by facilitating mutual learning and analysis, for instance, through the triennial Pension Adequacy Reports . The 2021 edition of the report highlighted the important role of minimum old-age benefits in safeguarding adequate pensions for those with short careers or low incomes. The report observed that Member States have put in place diverse minimum income schemes while new measures have been adopted in a number of countries to expand the minimum income protection in old age.

Support to national measures to prepare pension reforms and improve services for older people is available from Union programmes such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility , the Technical Support Instrument and the Employment and Social Innovation strand of the European Social Fund + .

Finally, the Commission launched a High-Level Group of experts to examine policy options to reinforce welfare states in providing social protection for all and ensure its financing in light of ongoing and upcoming challenges. The group will consider, inter alia, how to ensure adequate social protection in old age against the background of population ageing and changes in the labour market, including the role of minimum pensions. It will prepare a report that will feed into debate on potential policy follow-up at national and EU level.

The level and design of the minimum pensions are fundamentally a competence of Member States . They vary significantly across countries, reflecting the diversity of social protection systems.

Nonetheless, the Commission supports national efforts to ensure upward social convergence, including adequate pensions, and to uphold the ambition expressed in the European Pillar of Social Rights whereby the right to resources that ensure living in dignity in old age should be pursued. The Commission supports Member States through the European Semester coordination exercise as well as through mutual learning, policy analysis, and guidance. In 2019, 16 Member States received country-specific recommendations to improve the sustainability and/or adequacy of their pension systems, including the adequacy of minimum pensions. The key conclusions of the 2018 pension adequacy report affirm the vital role of minimum pensions as an old-age safety net.

As announced in the political guidelines and mission letters to the European Commission 2019-2024, the Commission will prepare an action plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and a Green Paper on Ageing, including a focus on pensions.

Ik woon zelf in Hongarije, en de mensen hebben het inderdaad niet breed, wetende dat het stookhout net zo duur zo niet duurder is per m3 dan in Nederland ,hier betaalt men 26.000 Huf p/m3 omgerekend 80 € ongeveer, men verstookt ge middeld 6 a 7 m3 per wi ter reken maar uit.ook boodschappen zijn de laatste jaren aanmerkelijk duurder geworden,.
Inderdaad wij als AOWers hebben het hier goed in Hongarije wonende in het zuid/westen.
Inderdaad ook geen vetpot, in Nederland kun je er ook niet van rondkomen.