site.btaPensioners Want Bulgarian MEPs to Press for EU Common Poverty Line

ESD 15:22:30 09-09-2014
DD1522ES.123
123 POLITICS - PENSIONERS - DEMANDS

Pensioners Want Bulgarian MEPs to
Press for EU
Common Poverty Line


Sofia, September 9 (BTA) - Speaking at a news conference at
BTA's Press Club on Tuesday, Dimiter Kisimov, Chairman of the
Association of Pensioners in Bulgaria, said pensioners want the
Bulgarian MEPs to press for a common poverty line throughout the
EU.

The Association also wants the amount allocated under EU
programmes for old people's homes in Bulgaria for 2014-2020 to
be made public.

Former constitutional judge Dimiter Gochev said it was high time
the right to life became a component of the national doctrine.
Besides a right to physical survival, it means that elderly
people should also have access to certain things which are part
of modern civilization.

The Association insists that pensions be recalculated on the
basis of the contributory income for 2013, and called for a
higher contributory threshold of at least 5,000 leva. Currently
the maximum monthly contributory income is 2,400 leva.

Geologist Vulko Gergelchev said that if Bulgaria's gold deposits
and mineral waters are used, a pension rise is very feasible.

The Association, which is a member of the National Council of
Pensioners, said it would appoint a contact group to meet with
the political parties during the campaign for the October 5
parliamentary elections.

Kisimov recalled that October 1 is the International Day of
Older Persons. He said old people in Bulgaria had been waiting
for 25 years now to be respected at least on that day. SN/DD