W. whereas the increase in expenditure on health care and pensions could have significant consequences for the continuity and cover of the current social protection schemes; whereas mutual societies promote key values of the welfare state such as solidarity, non-discrimination, equal access and high quality of social services in the private sector; whereas the enhancement of mutual societies’ contribution to the European social market economy should not take place at the expense of Member States’ action on social protection; whereas, however, that voluntary social protection must not replace statutory social security; whereas the di ...[+++]versity of social protection systems, some of them borne fully by the state, some by the mutual societies and some on a shared basis between the two, should be respected; whereas the statute for a European mutual society is essential but must not be used to make up for Member States’ deficiencies in terms of social protection;

S. whereas mutual societies are particularly active in the areas of health, long-term care, pensions and social services including the needs of an ageing population; whereas the involvement of mutual societies as major stakeholders is crucial for the long-lasting future of social protection, given that population ageing currently poses major challenges in Europe, placing a particular strain on national budget balances and risking putting public expenditure on social protection under pressure; and whereas mutual societies, whilst able to play an important role in proposing socially responsible pension schemes in the private sector, can ...[+++]not replace a strong first pillar of the pension system;

D. whereas in recent years Parliament has adopted several resolutions calling for the adoption of a regulation on the statute for a European mutual society; whereas it is regrettable that the Commission, having withdrawn its proposal for a statute for a European mutual society in 2006, has not brought forward any new proposals which would give mutual societies a suitable legal instrument to facilitate their cross-border activities;

Mutualidad General de Funcionarios Civiles del Estado, Servicios Centrales (General Mutual Insurance Scheme for State Civil Servants, Central Services), Madrid.

[4] The text was proposed by the Commission on 1992 together with two other drafts, one for a European Association and the second for a European Mutual Society, that were withdrawn by the Commission on 2006, due to lack of progress in the negotiations in the Council.

Furthermore, the Commission organised, in collaboration with the "European Association of Mutualities" a conference on the impact of genetic testing on the heath insurance system "New genetic applications and access to healthcare" in Brussels, 24-25 March 2004.