"European workers can now enjoy full pension rights when they move to another Member State. The legislation will help to eliminate barriers to the free movement of workers", said rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP, NL)
Statutory pension rights, i.e. those provided by the state, for people working in another Member State, are already secured under EU law. However, equivalent protection for supplementary pension schemes, i.e. occupational pensions financed or co-financed by employers, has not been established until now and individuals who move between member states have run the risk of losing entitlements built up over a period not deemed long enough.
Shorter period of affiliation
Under the new rules, the "vesting period", i.e. the period of active membership of a scheme needed for a person to keep supplementary pension entitlements, must not exceed three years.
Scope of the legislation
The legislation applies to EU workers who move within the EU, but also, at Parliament’s insistence, to cross-border workers.
Transposition
The deal sets a four-year deadline for transposing the directive into national law.
Next steps
The informal deal still has to be endorsed by Member States’ permanent representatives (COREPER) and the Employment Committee as a whole before going to plenary.
Press release
EuroParlTV video
Agreement endorsed 4.12.13 - Lithuanian Presidency press release
Council statement, 4.12.13
Pension rights abroad: Employment Committee backs EP-Council deal, 9.12.13
© European Parliament
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