IPE: Brussels must preserve framework for individual pension systems

05 June 2013

According to Gerry Dietvorst, an outgoing senior manager at Dutch insurer Achmea, the European Commission must establish a framework for individual Member States' pension systems and only regulate on the "main issues" to keep the EU from exploding.

Dietvorst said: "If the Commission fails to establish a framework, younger generations won't be able to pay for their pensions any longer and older generations will run out of money". He also argued the fact Northern European countries had "properly organised their pensions" while Southern states had not would only exacerbate the problem.  But he added that it would be "short-sighted" to think the Dutch pensions system was safe. "Our pension assets have been invested all over Europe", he said.

Dietvorst  pointed out that the Netherlands was currently implementing nearly all of the recommendations made in the European Commission's White Paper on Pensions, such as linking pensionable age to life expectancy. But the industry veteran said he did not anticipate uniform rules for all pension systems across Europe. "If, for example, it is custom that children take their parents into their homes, as it is in Greece, European pensions policy must take this into account", he said.

He also called on EU Member States to encourage their citizens to "take responsibility" for financing their retirement through fiscal stimuli in the third pillar, as a "compensating layer".

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