Everyone will work longer, except Poles

“They must work longer in the EU”, notesRzeczpospolita after the raising of retirement age as a way to help curb budget deficits was discussed duringthe February 4 EU summit. At least fifteen countries, the Warsaw daily adds, are currently preparing legislation on extending the retirement age. Except in Poland, even if the idea itself was on the reform agenda presented by PM Donald Tusk’s government in early 2010. The decision to gradually extend retirement age to 67 years for both men and women has already been made by Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain. Most radical of them all, the Danes are planning to raise the retirement age to as high as 72. “Poland, with its 60 years for women and 65 for men will soon have one of the lowest retirement age in Europe,” bemoans the conservative daily.