Translation of "Régime d'aide sociale " (French → English) :

25. Recognises the fact that public pension systems strengthen social solidarity and are the responsibility of the Member States and that safeguarding these systems should be a political priority; believes that greater use of alternatives to state-funded pensions, such as supplementary schemes, could be a viable alternative; points out that private pensions could include occupational supplementary pension schemes by employers or other collective organisations and associations and individual supplementary pensions based on savings; emphasises that the existence of private pensions would increase the need for the appropriate regulation ...[+++]of private pension funds, the portability of such pensions and the promotion and continued modernisation (including more flexibility) of these alternatives; within this framework, believes that the risk should be taken into account that women in the context of the existing public pension system might lose insurance coverage if private provisions are to replace this system, but that this risk can be reduced by crediting pension entitlements for maternity leave, parental leave and breaks from work for personal reasons;

25. Recognises the fact that public pension systems strengthen social solidarity and are the responsibility of Member States and that safeguarding these systems should be a political priority; believes that greater use of alternatives to state-funded pensions, such as supplementary schemes, could be a viable alternative; points out that private pensions could include occupational supplementary pension schemes by employers or other collective organisations and associations and individual supplementary pensions based on savings; emphasises that the existence of private pensions would increase the need for the appropriate regulation of p ...[+++]rivate pension funds, the portability of such pensions and the promotion and continued modernisation (including more flexibility) of these alternatives; within this framework, believes that the risk should be taken into account that women in the context of the existing public pension system might lose insurance coverage if private provisions are to replace this system, but that this risk can be reduced by crediting pension entitlements maternity leave, parental leave and breaks from work for personal reasons;

The five pillars include the general arrangements, the social clause, the environmental clause, the drugs regime and the ‘Everything But Arms’ initiative, which is in force for the least advanced countries.

The current GSP scheme provides a positive social and environmental incentive scheme, whereby compliance with core labour standards or internationally acknowledged environmental standards qualifies a beneficiary country for additional trade preferences.

12. While we will always guarantee welfare assistance for the least well off, Europe's taxation and social security systems too often have unintended adverse effects that lock people into dependency. Much can be gained from innovation in the field of social policy, such as the greater integration of the tax and social security systems. Member States must pay more attention to the building up of sustainable pension schemes. Although there will not be one single European social model, or one way to finance social welfare to suit all cou ...[+++]ntries and circumstances, it would be helpful to share best practice more closely across the EU to balance the competing demands of liberalisation, deregulation and social solidarity;

Three million Canadians are now on welfare and the cost of social assistance provided under the Canada Assistance Plan has gone up from less than $3 billion to more than $8 billion a year.