Discussions now proceeding in countries like Germany, France and Belgium about pensions reform have been raising questions that are greatly relevant, for this country as well.

One major dilemma is how to maintain the viability of pensions in the coming decades. The truth is that people are living longer  and the percentage of young people in the population will be shrinking. So, “benefit” payments for such items like pensions will have to be made for longer periods. Meanwhile, proportionately or in an absolute sense, there will be a reduction in the number of those who with their productive inputs, will be creating the wealth that should fund the “benefits”.

An obvious solution would be that, as is already being done, the entitlement to a pensions becomes effective at an older age and people are expected to work longer. After all they will be living longer and exercising their pension rights for longer years than in the past.

It’s an arrangement that appears to be socially and economically acceptable.

There’s one caveat though. While life expectancy has increased, it is not clear whether a longer life span corresponds now  to a longer life that is lived in good health. For what’s the point of having a sustainable pension if when one comes to benefit from it, one’s health has already deteriorated? 

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FISHERMEN AND QUOTAS

Internationally, fishing is run according to rules established by the countries which have a vested interest in the sector. These regulate the catches of the different species that are effected on the open seas: how and when they are carried out, plus the quotas in volume terms allocated to fishermen from each country.

Catches that are managed in this way cover such species as tuna and range from herring to anchovies. Thus, it is ensured that season after season, fishing does not irreparably deplete fish stocks and (supposedly) that the interests of fishermen from the different countries involved are protected.

A problem however is this: these systems, as established, promote the interests of which group? The interests of traditional fishermen who still operate as a small enterprise on a family basis? Or the interests of  “industrial” fishing companies operating  on a large scale and gobbling everything up?

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THE NEW COMMISSION

A month late... or perhaps a bit more than that... the new Commission will have started as of December this year with its work.

It faces an agenda that is long and formidable in terms of the commitment it requires. Many of its elements fall outside the direct control of the same commission. Strong differences in perspectives exist between member states regarding the choices that need to be made. It is not clear that the Commission will have what it takes to drive forward agreements based on compromise.

Still, one hopes that the von der Leyen Commission will not adopt the same tactics as the Juncker Commission and claim that even any small step forward, when measured by the standards of a mouse, is really and truly a lion’s leap. One hopes too that during its mandate, the new Commission will not run into the kind of crises that its predecessor encountered.