MEP David Casa told the EP plenary session in Strasbourg it was important to guarantee safe, adequate and sustainable pensions to EU citizens.

"At an age when EU citizens are particularly vulnerable it is essential that member states ensure that social protection systems, especially pension systems are strong and give Europe's aging population certainty of an economically independent life", he said.

Mr Casa stressed that it is the member states which should define adequacy in terms of what would be necessary for older people to lead a decent life. He added that adequacy of pensions is dependent on specific domestic circumstances in individual states and that hence the principle of subsidiarity must be respected.