The government is somewhat delaying the approval of the second part of the pension reform, but Social Security Minister José Luis Escrivá suggests that the process is nearing completion. Nor in the European Commission, where they analyze the legislative changes related to the European funds, are they in no hurry to follow the Spanish executive, which is the most advanced in the implementation of the recovery plan, indicating that the timeline is indicative. They prefer changes to be negotiated. And this is Escrivá’s second visit to Brussels in just two weeks to discuss reform with the community’s authorities. The minister mentioned once again that the changes take into account the reporting period.
This is the main obstacle in the negotiations in Spain, even though it is a compromise in the plan presented in Brussels. So far, Escrivá has not been able to convince the government’s parliamentary partners (we can’t even be united) about his proposal to extend the pension calculation years from 25 to 28 years. Nor to the trade unions, which demand the political majority to negotiate on this issue. Escriva, however, took it for granted this Monday that the measure would be included in the agreement, which is “very close,” he repeated several times.
What did not want to set a specific date and spoke at the end of the month or in the coming days. Of course, he assumes that before the Easter break. The minister argued that changing the pension calculation period could help workers with “non-linear” careers, ie those who have not had the best salary in recent years.
“Today we were able to verify how the work of the teams works significantly,” the minister said in statements to journalists after a meeting with Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni. As he explained, he “saw” that in this case the process is more “closer”, precisely because the vanguard of the negotiations is Spain. It is the only country to have received European Commission approval for the third disbursement of NextGenerationEU funds.
The second part of the pension reform should be implemented for the fourth release of European funds. The other issue in the package, which Escrivá presented during his recent trip to Brussels – this time without publicity – has to do with what the top salaries are. In this case, the minister opened a “solidarity tax” or “additional tax” for higher wages.
The doubts of the European Commission were in the intergenerational capital mechanism (MEI) approved in the first block of the reform, which consists of an additional quota intended for the pension piggy bank. Brussels called for the stabilization of the instrument after 2032, the date when the government wanted to re-analyze the state of the pension system in order to agree on its continuity. The intention is to extend it until 2050. “There are very few left,” Escriva assured the community’s capital.
Source: El Diario
