In October the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published the consultation ‘Response to Call for Advice on the review of Directive 2003/41/EC: second consultation’. The consultation covered EIOPA’s draft advice to the European Commission on the review of the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP – Directive 2003/41/EC). The Directive applies to occupational pension schemes, which unlike insurance-based pension schemes do so on a not-for-profit basis.
EIOPA will give their final advice to the Commission in mid-February on the reform of the IORP Directive, with a view to publishing a draft Directive later in the year. While this may sound very technical, the outcome of the consultation could be pivotal – and extremely adverse –for UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes and the wider European Union economy. It is an issue that significantly concerns the TUC.
