Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-09-06-Speech-1-365"
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"en.20100906.24.1-365"2
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"Madam President, ladies and gentlemen – or should I say ‘ladies’, since unfortunately I see that there are relatively few men present for this debate on women – I should like to thank Mrs Pietikäinen for her draft report on the role of women in an ageing society. The report addresses what is a relevant issue in the context of today’s demographic challenges and provides a helpful analysis of that issue through the use of a multidisciplinary approach.
The Commission is aware that elderly women and men face major difficulties in trying to lead an active life, build up pension rights for their retirement and grow old with dignity when their physical capabilities are diminishing.
The fact remains that elderly women are particularly vulnerable because of the persistent stereotypes concerning the roles of each sex, and also because of the discrimination they suffer on the labour market.
The effect on a woman’s pension rights of taking career breaks or leave to look after close relatives, coupled with the pay gaps that persist between the sexes, exposes them, when they grow older, to a higher risk of poverty than men.
The Commission has taken several initiatives to draw attention to the needs of the European Union’s ageing societies, in which elderly women have an essential role to play. Only recently, the Commission emphasised, in its Green Paper on pensions, how important it is to reduce the gaps between women and men, particularly as regards the care of individuals, pay and the labour market.
The Commission will continue to stress the importance of the role of women in an ageing society within the context of its forthcoming strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015, which will be adopted this month.
The Commission will also ensure that the integration of gender equality issues features in its proposal to designate 2012 the European Year of Active Ageing.
As this is my last speech this evening, may I take this opportunity to also thank the interpreters and to apologise if I spoke too quickly at times."@en1
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