Retirement age should rise to 65 from 58, say EU leaders
European leaders want the average effective retirement age of EU citizens to rise to 65 by 2010 from 58 currently, they said in the draft of their final communique.
"Early retirement incentives for individuals and introduction of early retirement schemes by companies should be discouraged," the communique said.
Efforts should be stepped up to increase opportunities for older workers to remain in the labour market, for instance, through gradual retirement formulas and guaranteeing a real access to lifelong learning, it said.
"A progressive increase in the effective average retirement age from the present 58 towards 65 should be sought by 2010," the communique said.
Progress in this field will be analysed annually before every spring EU summit, it said.
