91997E2241

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2241/97 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (2 July 1997)

Subject: New prospects as regards retirement pensions for housewives

In its recent reply to my question (E-0119/97) ((OJ C 217, 17.7.1997, p. 101. )) on the above-mentioned subject, the Council of Ministers held out hopes that a satisfactory solution might be found to the issue of retirement pensions for housewives, which is the subject of a far-reaching debate in the Community.

The Council referred to new Commission initiatives which might encompass an issue of great importance for all housewives, a section of the population that is always at the mercy of interminable discussions which fail to provide a solution to a question of considerable importance to society.

Can the Commission provide information on the specific proposals on this subject, in the light of the prospects raised by the Council of Ministers in its recent reply to my question, and how can it respond the legitimate demands made by housewives throughout the European union?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (12 September 1997)

The Commission intends to rekindle the debate on the subjects broached in its proposal for a Directive dated 23 October 1987 ((COM(87) 494 final. )) by putting forward a new proposal for a Directive. This proposal, intended to redress the shortcomings of the existing directives in the field of equal treatment for men and women, should take into account developments in case law, particularly in the field of occupational schemes (the Barber case and related cases), and changes in family and social structures.

It should be pointed out that the problem of social protection for women at home is tackled in the context of the debate launched at Community level by the Commission communication of 12 March 1997 on 'Modernising and

improving social protection in the European Union' ((COM(97) 102 final. )). In this communication, emphasis is given to adapting social protection to the new balance of the sexes in terms of participation in working life, and to changes in family structures.

In addition, in its 1997 report on social protection, the Commission will include the efforts of Member States to make progress towards the individualisation of rights without jeopardising the economic situation of women.