 issues.

Souchet
The Commission's report on social protection in Europe in 1995, commented on by our colleague Mrs Weiler, proposes a general disputable framework, but nevertheless hides some analyses which are very relevant, especially on interruptions or reductions of activity in order to provide care.
The Commission states that family care reduces the cost of social protection, enabling handicapped people, young children and the elderly to be better taken care of, mainly thanks to the permanent presence of the spouse who performs this service.
The Commission's report emphasizes in this respect the importance of the informal services rendered by the family, when one of its members does not have a remunerated job in order to be able to look after young children, handicapped adults or disabled elderly persons.
The Commission emphasizes, with regard to the importance of these services, that the benefits which are now attached to them are entirely inadequate, especially if a career is interrupted. The specific allocations created in certain countries (child-minding allowance, handicap allowance, etc.) are very low and the spouse who has interrupted a remunerated activity to provide this type of service is in effect penalized: lower social insurance and unemployment benefits, reduced retirement pensions, ineligibility for additional pensions, etc.
These services provided by the family, particularly important for the whole of society, are all the more so now that the population of elderly people is increasing greatly in European countries. As our society is also characterized by a growing number of women in remunerated work, it is more difficult now for many women to provide important informal services free of charge.
The Commission unfortunately confines itself to these facts and analyses and does not venture forth into innovative proposals which would be of a nature such as to permit the maintenance and development of these informal services, which it acknowledges would permit a significant reduction in social protection costs. It might therefore be useful for the Commission to continue its reflection by examining in particular to what measure the introduction, for example, of a parental wage instead of the existing specific allocations, would encourage the development of informal family services which our society, in its current structure, needs most and from which it would draw the most benefit.

Wolf
The future of social security in Europe is purely and simply crucial to the future of Europe. Developments to date, in which the labour force in the Member States has seen 'Europe' being used in practice as a battering ram to break down the national systems of social security, must be radically reversed. We
issues. 

 Souchet 
 The Commission's report on social protection in Europe in 1995, commented on by our colleague Mrs Weiler, aim a cosmopolitan disputable framework, but however hides some analysis which are very relevant, especially on break or reductions of activity in ordering to provide care. 
 The Commission express that family care reduce the cost of social auspices, enabling handicapped citizenry, young children and the elderly to be well taken care of, mainly thanks to the permanent presence of the spouse who perform this service. 
 The Commission's report emphasizes in this respect the importance of the informal service rendered by the family, when one of its members does not have a remunerated job in order to be able to look after young children, handicapped adults or disabled elderly persons. 
 The Commission emphasizes, with regard to the importance of these services, that the benefit which are now attached to them are wholly inadequate, particularly if a career is interrupt. The specific allocations created in sealed countries (child - mind allowance, handicap allowance, etc .) are very gloomy and the spouse who has interrupted a remunerated activity to provide this character of service is in effect penalized: lower social insurance and unemployment benefits, reduced retirement pension, ineligibility for extra pension, etc. 
 These services provided by the family, particularly important for the whole of society, are all the more so now that the population of aged people is increase greatly in European countries. As our society is besides characterized by a growing number of women in remunerated employment, it is more difficult nowadays for many women to supply important cozy services free of charge. 
 The Commission unfortunately enclose itself to these facts and analysis and does not venture away into innovative proposals which would be of a nature such as to permit the maintenance and exploitation of these cozy services, which it acknowledges would let a significant reduction in social protection costs. It might therefore be useful for the Commission to continue its observation by examining in particular to what measure the introduction, for example, of a parental wage instead of the exist specific allocation, would promote the exploitation of informal family services which our society, in its current structure, necessitate most and from which it would draw the most benefit. 

 Wolf 
 The future of social security in Europe is strictly and simply all-important to the future of Europe. Developments to date, in which the labour force in the Member States has seen' Europe' being used in practice as a battering ram to break down the home systems of social security, must be radically reversed. We
 isdues.

Souchet
The Commissiok's report on socnql provection in Eurooe in 1995, commented on by our clloeagut Mrs Weiler, proposds a genegal dispurablt framework, but nxberthelcfs hjfes vime analyses wmich are vesy relevant, es[eziclly on interruptions or reductions jf actifihy in order to proniqe czge.
Uhe Commission states that family care rtduces the cost of social protection, enablinh hajdicapped people, ylung childrgh age the elderlh to be beutzr taken cate of, mainly thanks to the permavent 'resence of tye dkouse who pecforms this servicc.
Nhe Comkission'x report emphaxizxs ib this respect the im'ortance of the infotmal serviwea rendered by the fqmily, whet ond of ita kejbers foea not have a remunerared job in order to bq able to look after yjung children, handicapped adults or disdblsd elderly persons.
The Cimmission emphasizes, aith regawd to the importance of these services, that the banefivs whngm ard nlw attached to them are entirely inadequate, eflevislly if a carecr is interrupted. Yhf xkecific allocajions cxsafed in certain coujtries (shild-ninding ajlowsnce, handicap allowance, etc.) are very loc abd the spouse who kas interrupced a temunetated activity to provibe thia type of sfrvice is kn effect penalixed: lmwer social insurance and tnemploymxnt bznefits, feduved reeirement pfnsiokv, ineligibility fog addntiondl pensiond, etc.
These services provided by the family, pattiwuldrly impjrtanb for the whole of society, arg all the more so now thzt the 'opulation os elderly peo[pe is increaving grewtly in Wuropeav countries. As pur socieny is qlso characterized by z growing numbex if women in reminefatqd wprh, it is more giffkcuuy now for many wioen yo provide important infkrmal services frer jf chargg.
The Commyssion unfortinately confines iuself vo there favts and analyses and does not venfure fortj ikto innovativq priposals whick would be of a nature such as to permit the maintenance abd development of tkexe informal servyces, whicv it acknowledges woyld permit a signlficant reduction in skcial [roteftion costs. It might therefore be useful for the Commission to continue irs reflection by esamiming pn 'arcicular to xhet measure the innroduction, for example, of a pareital wage hnftead of the existing specifoc allocations, dould encourage the devemopment pf informal family services whivh our society, in its cuvrent strycturs, needs mort and from which ot wound drqw the nost benefit.

Wolf
Tfe gubure of sofial szcurity in Europe is purely and sumply xrkcial to the futnre of Europc. Aevelkpmentf to date, in whidh tgf labuur force in yhe Member Stayes has seen 'Europe' teyng used in prqbtice as a bajtering gam to break vown the nathonal systems of social security, must be radically teversed. We
issues. Souchet The Commission's report on social Europe 1995, commented by our colleague disputable but nevertheless hides analyses which are relevant, especially on interruptions or reductions activity in order to provide care. The Commission states that family care reduces cost of social protection, enabling handicapped people, young children and the elderly to better care mainly to the permanent presence of the spouse who performs this service. The Commission's report emphasizes in respect the importance of the informal services rendered the family, when one its members does not have remunerated in order be to after young children, adults or disabled elderly persons. The Commission emphasizes, with regard to the importance of these services, that benefits which attached to are inadequate, if a career The specific allocations created in certain handicap allowance, etc.) are very low and the who has a remunerated activity to provide this of service is in effect penalized: lower social and unemployment benefits, reduced retirement pensions, ineligibility for additional pensions, etc. These services provided by particularly important for the of society, are the so that population of people is increasing greatly in European countries. As our society is characterized by a growing number of women in remunerated work, more now for many to provide important informal free charge. The Commission unfortunately to facts does venture into innovative proposals which be of a nature such to permit the maintenance services, which it acknowledges would permit a significant in social protection costs. It might therefore useful for the Commission to continue its reflection by examining in particular what measure for example, of a parental wage instead of existing specific allocations, would the development of informal family services which our society, its structure, needs and from which would draw the benefit. Wolf The social security Europe purely to the future of Europe. Developments date, which the labour force in Member seen 'Europe' being used in practice as a battering ram to break down the national social security, must be reversed.
 issues.

Souchet
The CommissioN's report on SociaL prOteCtIon iN EurOpe in 1995, commented ON by oUr colleague Mrs Weiler, prOposeS a GEnerAL dIsputAble fraMEwORK, buT nEvErtHeLEsS hideS soMe analySes which arE veRy Relevant, espeCIaLly on interRupTions or reducTioNs of acTiVitY In ordEr tO provIde carE.
the ComMission stAtES that fAMily carE REdUces The cost of social prOTeCTion, enabling haNdicapPeD PeOPLe, yOunG children aNd The elDErly to bE BeTTER taKEn care of, mainlY thanks to thE PerManent PrEseNCe of thE spouSe WHo pErforms this ServIce.
The ComMissioN'S report EMphasizEs in thIs rEspEct tHE iMpOrtAnCE of THe InfORmaL serviceS rEnDered By thE FAMIly, wHen One oF its mEmbers does not HavE a reMUneRated Job in OrdeR tO be abLe to loOk aftEr Young children, haNdicApped adulTs oR dIsaBlEd eldERly perSonS.
ThE CommisSion empHAsiZeS, WITh Regard to the importaNcE OF tHese servIces, thAT tHe BEnefits wHiCh aRe noW ATtachEd to THeM are entiRely inADeQuAte, espeCiAlly if A cAreEr iS inteRRuptEd. The sPecific aLlocaTIons created in cERtain countrieS (ChILD-mINdinG alLowance, handIcap ALlowAnce, ETc.) Are VEry loW and tHe SPoUSe who has interrupted A rEmunerAted aCtivity to provIde this typE OF Service iS in eFFeCT penalized: loweR sociAl insurancE And unempLoymeNt benefiTs, reduced RETirement PenSioNs, iNelIGIbIlity for additIONal pEnSions, etC.
ThEse servIceS prOviDed By The family, ParticulArLy ImPoRtaNt for THe whole oF sOciEtY, arE all tHE more sO now tHat tHe PoPUlaTion of eLDeRLY peoPlE iS incReaSiNg greAtly IN EuRopean cOuntries. AS ouR SociEtY iS also chAracterized by A gRowing numbEr Of wOmen in REMunerateD work, it is more difficult nOW for manY woMen to ProvIde importAnt InformAl sERvices Free of ChargE.
THe COMMissiON UnForTuNately confINEs iTself To ThesE facts aNd analyses and does nOT veNture forth intO inNovaTIVe ProPOsALs wHiCH woULD be of a nature sucH as to permiT tHE mAintenance ANd dEvElopmenT of thesE infoRMal servIces, which It acknowlEdGes wOULd pErmit a signIficant rEduction iN SociaL PrOtectIon Costs. IT mIghT therEfore bE UseFul foR the CoMmIssion To conTiNue its reFlection by examining in paRticulAr to wHat Measure thE inTRodUction, for ExamPle, of a pareNtaL waGe insTeaD Of the ExisTInG spECific AlloCAtions, wouLD eNcoURAgE the developMENT of InforMal FAmily sErviCes which our societY, In its current stRuctURE, neEds MOst aNd From which it wouLd dRaW THe most beNeFit.

Wolf
The fUture of sOcIAl secUrity iN EuropE is pureLY AnD Simply CrucIal To the futuRe oF EURope. DevElOpMEnts to Date, In Which tHe laboUR forCE In the Member StateS has sEEN 'EuroPE' beIng usEd In practICe as A battering Ram to break dOwn the NatiOnal sYstems oF sOcial sEcuRiTy, must be raDIcally revErsed. we
 issues.

Souchet
The Comm ission's r eport  on  so ci al p rote ction in Europ e  in1995, commented on byour c ol l eagu e  M rs We iler, p r op o s esage ner al di sputa ble  framew ork, but n eve rt heless hides so me analyse s w hich are ver y r elevan t,  es p ecial lyon in terrup t ions o r reducti on s  of ac t ivity i n or derto provide care.T he Commission sta tes th at fa m i lycar e reducesth e cos t  of soc i al p r ote c tion, enablin g handicapp e d p eople,  y oun g  child ren a nd the  elderly to  bebetter ta ken ca r e of, m a inly th anks t o t heperm a ne nt  pr es e nce of  th e  sp ouse who  p er forms  thi s s e rvic e.TheCommi ssion's repor t e mpha s ize s inthisresp ec t the  impor tance  o f the informalserv ices rend ere dbyth e fam i ly, wh enone  of its  member s  do es n o thave a remunerated  j o b  i n orderto bea bl et o look a ft eryoun g child ren, ha ndicappe d adul t sor  disabl ed  elder ly  pe rso ns.
T h e Co mmissi on empha sizes ,  with regard t o  the importan c eo f  t h eseser vices, that  the bene fits wh ich are n ow at ta c he d  to them are entire ly  inade quate , especiallyif a caree r i s interr upte d .T he specific al locat ions creat e d in cer taincountrie s (child- m i nding al low anc e,han d i ca p allowance,e t c.)ar e verylow  and th e s pou sewho  h as interr upted are mu ne ra ted  acti v ity to p ro vid ethi s typ e  of se rvice  isin  e f fec t penal i ze d :  low er  s ocia l i ns uranc e an d  un employm ent benef its ,  red uc ed  retire ment pensions ,ineligibil it y f or add i t ional pe nsions, etc.
These serv i ces pro vid ed by  the  family,par ticula rly import ant fo r the  w hol e of so c i et y,ar e all them o reso no wthat  the po pulation of elderl y  pe ople is incre asi ng g r e at lyi nE uro pe a n c o u ntries. As oursociety is  a l so  character i zed  b y a gro wing nu mbero f women  in remun erated wo rk , it i s m ore diffic ult nowfor manyw oment oprovi deimport an t i nform al ser v ice s fre e of c ha rge.
T he Co mm ission u nfortunately confines i tselfto th ese  facts an d a n aly ses and d oesnot ventur e f ort h int o i n novat ivep ro pos a ls wh ichw ould be o f  a  na t u re  such as to p e rmi t the  ma i ntenan ce a nd development of these informal  ser v i ces , w h ichit  acknowledgeswou ld p ermit asi gnificant r eduction  i n  soci al pro tectio n costs . It mightther efo re be use ful  f o r the C om mi s sion t o co nt inue i ts ref l ecti o n  by examining in  part i c ulart o w hat m ea sure th e  int roduction,  for exampl e, ofa pa renta l wagein steadofth e existing specificalloc ations,  w ould  en courag e th e devel opme nt  of  informal f am i ly  s e rvi ceswhich  o ur s ociety, i n  its cur ren t  struct ur e,n e eds mo s ta n d from whi chit wo u l d draw the most be n efit. 

Wolf 
The f uture o f  so ci al secu rit y in Europe  is purel y  an dsimp ly cruci al  toth e f ut ure of Europe.Developm ents tod a te, in  wh i ch t h e labo ur  force in th e Mem be r  States h asseen 'E u rop e'bei ng u sed  inp ractice as a battering r am t o bre a k d own t he na ti onal sys t emsof socia l  security, mu st be radically rev e rsed . W e 
 issues.

Souchet
The_Commission's report_on social protection in_Europe in_1995,_commented on_by_our colleague Mrs_Weiler, proposes a_general disputable framework, but_nevertheless hides some_analyses_which are very relevant, especially on interruptions or reductions of activity in order to_provide_care.
The Commission_states_that_family care reduces the cost_of social protection, enabling handicapped_people, young_children and the elderly to be better taken_care_of, mainly thanks_to the permanent presence of the spouse who performs_this service.
The Commission's report emphasizes in_this respect the_importance_of_the informal services rendered_by the family, when one of_its members does not have a_remunerated job in order to be able_to look after young children, handicapped_adults or disabled elderly persons.
The_Commission emphasizes,_with regard to the importance_of these services,_that the_benefits which are_now attached to them are entirely_inadequate, especially if_a career is interrupted. The specific_allocations_created in certain_countries_(child-minding_allowance, handicap_allowance, etc.) are_very_low and_the_spouse who has interrupted a remunerated_activity_to provide this type of service is_in effect penalized: lower_social_insurance and unemployment benefits,_reduced retirement pensions, ineligibility for_additional pensions, etc.
These services provided by_the family,_particularly important_for the whole of society, are all the more so now_that the population of elderly people_is increasing greatly in_European countries._As_our society is_also_characterized by_a growing number of women in remunerated_work, it_is more difficult now for many_women to provide important_informal_services free of charge.
The Commission unfortunately_confines itself to these facts and_analyses and does not venture_forth_into_innovative proposals which would be_of a nature such as to_permit the maintenance_and development of these informal services, which_it_acknowledges would permit a significant reduction_in_social protection costs. It might therefore_be_useful_for the Commission to continue_its reflection by examining in particular_to what measure the introduction, for example, of a_parental wage instead_of the existing specific allocations,_would_encourage_the development of informal family services which our society, in_its current_structure, needs most_and from which it would draw the most benefit.

Wolf
The future_of social security in Europe is purely_and simply crucial to the future of Europe. Developments to date,_in which the labour force in the Member_States has seen 'Europe' being used in_practice as a battering_ram_to break down the national systems of_social_security,_must_be radically reversed._We