MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. Large-scale protests in France point to a need to upgrade social welfare systems as soon as possible in accordance with the reality of the digital era, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said, addressing a plenary meeting of the Gaidar Forum on Tuesday.

"Most countries are facing common issues, which concern ways to ensure the rights of those who are being left out of the social welfare system in the wake of technological progress. Another question is what will become of this system and how it should be upgraded?" Medvedev said. "

"Complicated social processes and mass protests in European countries - particularly, in France - show that there is a need to find answers to these questions as soon as possible," he added.

"Undoubtedly, these matters are relevant for our country as well," Medvedev said.