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The Commission adopted an amended proposal on the Directive of supplementary pension rights. The proposal takes on the majority of the European Parliament's amendments from last June. It focuses on the setting of minimum requirements for better access to pension rights, clearer rights of preservation so mobile workers' pensions are treated fairly, and improved access to useful and timely information. Its aim is to ensure that workers are not penalised because of mobility.
The proposal follows the lead of Parliament by focusing on the key issues of easier access for workers to supplementary pensions and more clearly defined measures for the appropriate treatment of dormant pension rights of mobile workers. Ensuring ongoing sustainability is also reflected in the Commission’s acceptance of Parliament’s wish to give schemes more time to accommodate new requirements.
“The urgency of improving workers' rights is why I was ready to accept a compromise on the issue of the transfer of supplementary rights as well as the exclusion from the Directive of pension schemes that are already closed to new members”, EU Commissioner Špidla said. Provisions relating to transfers are therefore not present in the proposal. The Commission recognises the view of many that, at this time, measures for the transfer of supplementary rights are a step too far.
The title of the proposal has been amended to “Proposal for a directive on the minimum requirements for enhancing worker mobility by improving the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights”.
The next steps will be to seek unanimity in Council, and then agreement with the European Parliament in second reading. As set out in the proposal the Commission will re-examine the issues relating to transfers in the first of its reports to be produced five years after the Directive’s entry into force.