Vladimir Spidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities

Question: What are your main priorities for your term in office?

Vladimir Spidla: My first priority is to increase the number of people in employment – starting with women and young people. I also want to promote good quality jobs, make progress in the area of anti-discrimination, and modernise the different pensions schemes and social systems in Europe.

Question: Barroso's Commission is making a name for its pro- business agenda and focus on economic growth and competitiveness. Is there a danger of your social portfolio becoming a ‘poor relation’ to the Lisbon type dossiers?

Vladimir Spidla: No, there is no danger. European Commission’s mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy mentions both growth and employment, because the commission thinks there is no automatic link between growth and jobs. Unemployment is a European issue and must be fought. We need an active policy for good quality jobs, and this part is the social policy.

The new approach does not ignore the Lisbon strategy and its objectives of growth, social cohesion and sustainable development- which are still on the agenda. Now we have to focus on the most important policies, but of course the general concept of the Lisbon strategy will be achieved. This is why I am sure that the balance between social affairs, economy and sustainable development is a good one.

Question: Do you remain optimistic?

Vladimir Spidla: Today, I am optimistic.

Question: You’re a socialist commissioner, and some of your socialist colleagues in the commission and the European Parliament, are concerned about the new commission's move towards free market right wing ideology. How do you sooth those concerns?

Vladimir Spidla: This is not true. The new Commission works in favour of quality of life issues, and is of course concerned by competitiveness and growth. The new Commission continues to support the Lisbon strategy, including social policy and sustainable development.

Question: The New Social Agenda 2005-2010 is about to be published. What new legislative proposals are scheduled? In your view is it ambitious enough?

Vladimir Spidla: The New Social Agenda will support the social cohesion, anti-discriminatory policies, employment, and will promote an efficient social dialogue in Europe. I think some pieces of legislation will be necessary, but in the social policy field, legislation is one tool among others, like communication, social dialogue, coordination, etc that we can use. Progress must be made in all areas of social policy.

Question: The UK is often looked at as an example of de-regulation and reform – moving away from state and employer contributions. Is this the way forward to avoid the pensions time bomb?

Vladimir Spidla: We are preparing a green paper on demographic change in Europe. The question of pensions is only one of the problems linked to ageing. Changes must be made not only to pension schemes, but to health systems, social security systems, public transport - in fact the whole social policy arena must be reformed. Education and training must also be reformed, and older people must remain on the job market.

Pension schemes vary from one country to another, as a result of traditions and social history. Three systems co-exist: loan-back pensions, contributory pension schemes, those who work pay for those who are retired, and the Beveridge system in the UK. The Beveridge system does not link contributions to the pension payments meaning that everybody has the same pension. On the continent pensions depend on the contributions  - known as the Bismarck system.

All countries have to modernise their systems. In the UK, the problem is not durability, but the low level of pensions. A mix between the two systems must be found.

All countries are trying hard to modernise their pension schemes – and give people the opportunity to work longer. An interesting example is Sweden.

Today, life expectancy is 77 years, which leads to an average of 22 years in retirement. If you take into account that people start their professional life at 22, and if you add the periods of illness, unemployment, etc, in fact that leaves us with an average of 52 years with no economic activity.

Question: Isn’t it the case that most people have everything to fear and nothing to gain – except higher contributions – from the scrapping of state and employer contribution schemes?

Vladimir Spidla: People may be able to gain something in all systems. It all depends on the structure of the pension scheme, not on the pension scheme itself, because all pension schemes carry risks.

I don’t think it is possible to find one solution. Countries should be encouraged to look for the mix of different systems which suits them best.

Also because of the single market, a system must be found for those who work in different countries, and so in different schemes, be it a contributory or loan-back scheme. I want to make progress on the "portability" of pensions.

Question: Ministers remain unable to reach an agreement on the working time directive, with the opt-out clause the biggest obstacle. Are you pleased with the new draft proposal submitted by Stavros Dimas before you took office?

Vladimir Spidla: The new directive on working time came about because provisions in the old directive included a 10 year review clause – and that is what we are engaged in now.

This is why this new directive must be prepared. My colleague Dimas made a proposal which is a working paper. Yes some of the issues are difficult, like the opt-out clause, periods of rest, and reference time. Some ideological arguments have also been put forward, which should be withdrawn if we are to make progress.

Question: Do you think that an agreement could be reached this year ?

Vladimir Spidla: I think an agreement could be reached during the Luxemburg presidency.

Question: On the question of temporary workers - do you think there's a chance of finding an agreement on the current text?

Vladimir Spidla: This is also an important directive, clearly linked to the single market. All directives in social affairs are difficult, but the only problem with this one is the transitional period. I think there is a chance we can make progress and reach an agreement.

Question: There has been a lot of concern across the board and across political parties in the European Parliament about the Service Directive. How can the Commission safeguard the social acquis?

Vladimir Spidla: This directive is indeed sensitive. The Commission is prepared for in-depth discussions with the European Parliament to reach a solution. And I think we will find one.

We are also preparing a commission communication on services of general interest. This communication will give a chance to make progress on the so called “Bolkestein Directive”, too. If the communication is well received, perhaps we will be able to solve the main problem with the Bolkestein directive.

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