BAKGRUNN (fra Kommisjonens pressemelding 27.7.2016, engelsk utgave)
 
European Commission launches public consultation on personal pensions
 
The Commission services are today launching a public consultation on personal pensions. Personal (or private) pensions are long-term savings products that individuals contribute to on a voluntary basis, complementing state and workplace pensions. Today's consultation invites individuals to provide information on their experience using personal pension schemes and whether they are interested in using these schemes to save for their retirement. The consultation will also seek the views of professionals working in the pensions industry and their interest in offering simple, affordable and transparent personal pension products which work towards providing better returns. The EU's changing demographics means that the proportion of workers supporting those in retirement will be halved by 2060. As a result, European pension systems will face the dual challenge of remaining financially sustainable and being able to provide an adequate income to pensioners. The consultation will enable the Commission to assess what can be done at EU level to support a wider choice of personal pensions competing across borders. As key players in capital markets, increasing investment in personal pensions is one of the priorities of the Capital Markets Union. They offer the potential to inject more savings into capital markets and channel additional financing to productive investments.

The public consultation will run until 31st October 2016.