EP elections – Leftist opposition DK unveils European pension plan

Promising the introduction of a European minimum pension and the protection of existing pension arrangements, the leftist opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) on Sunday unveiled its European Parliament election programme aimed at pensioners.

Presenting the plan at a press conference, Klára Dobrev, Democratic Coalition‘s top candidate, said that even the lowest pensions should reach the level needed to live a “normal, decent life”.

Additionally, both the inflation rate and wage growth should be incorporated into the formula for calculating payment increases, she said. In response to a question, she said that

according to DK’s calculations, the minimum pension should amount to around 70 percent of the minimum wage.

Dobrev called the effective nationalisation of private pension funds and the scrapping of service pensions and disability pensions “unlawful”.

On the topic of DK’s plan for a “European health-care minimum”, Dobrev said European citizens should be entitled to the same level of health care across the EU.

She noted that

DK recently submitted a proposal that would prohibit the eviction of families with small children from their homes, saying that the same protections should apply to elderly people.

As regards home care for elderly people, Dobrev said the system was “on the brink of collapse” and that many would be left without care within ten years. Therefore, she said, the number of places available in nursing homes should be doubled and the wages of social sector workers should be raised by at least 50 percent.

Finally, Dobrev said DK wanted member states to allocate a portion of their EU funds to improving the quality of life of the elderly.

Source: MTI