Pension Systems and Long Term Care: Social Services Crucial to support an Ageing European population

Pension Systems and Long Term Care: Social Services Crucial to support an Ageing European population

It is no secret that Europe has an ageing population: the population aged 60 and older is rapidly growing in the WHO European Region from 215 million in 2021 and projected to rise to 247 million by 2030, and to over 300 million by 2050. Ensuring adequate old-age income is crucial to achieving the 2030 EU target of lifting at least 15 million people out of poverty and social exclusion. On 20 June, Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs adopted Council conclusions on pension adequacy, following the publication of the 2024 Pension Adequacy Report, drafted by the Commission and the Social Protection Committee. This Pension Adequacy Report has two volumes:

• The first analyses the EU’s overall pension adequacy and the impact of recent crises on pensioners’ living standards;
• The second provides detailed profiles of pension systems in each of the 27 Member States and Norway.

Amongst others, one of the main findings is that for people with severe care needs, long-term care costs can exceed pension income, highlighting the need for comprehensive social protection support. Hence, high-quality services working on providing long-term care will play a crucial role in ensuring that the rights and wellbeing of these vulnerable groups are safeguarded, renewing EPR’s eagerness to leverage its members expertise on this topic.