Policy Focused Debate

📅 08 September 2026

🕔 From 12:00 to 13:30 (registration and lunch at 11:30)

📍 European Parliament

Introduction and Concept

As part of the broader Savings and Investment Union (SIU) strategy presented in March 2025, the Commission launched the Supplementary Pensions Package on 20 November 2025. This package includes two legislative proposals and a non-legislative recommendation: (i) the revision of the Pan-European Personal Pension Product Regulation (PEPP review), (ii) the revision of the Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision Directive (IORP II review), and (iii) the recommendations on auto-enrolment, pension tracking systems, and pension dashboards.

In line with the SIU's main principles, the Commission aims to address a two-fold problem: first, closing the EU’s widening pensions gap, which is due to significant demographic challenges, by improving the retirement incomes of EU citizens and enhancing the Pillar II (occupational pensions) and Pillar III (personal pension products) systems. Second, the goal is to mobilise private savings for long-term investment in the real economy and in the EU’s strategic priorities across Member States. This includes introducing investment flexibilities and coherent, usable frameworks.

The overarching objectives of the package are to strengthen both demand and supply in the supplementary pensions sector while maintaining Member States' independence in their national pension systems and the role of social partners. This session will focus on the PEPP Regulation and IORP II Directive reviews, which seek to enhance the EU’s supplementary pensions sector by enabling providers to offer efficient products that yield better returns.

Questions for discussion

This event will explore whether the PEPP and IORP II reviews can effectively address the primary issues affecting the uptake of occupational and personal pension schemes in the EU. The focus will be on their potential to deliver better returns and create robust, sustainable pension frameworks, as well as their role in mobilising savings towards long-term strategic goals, fostering competitiveness, and reducing both the pensions and investment gaps.

Speakers will discuss the following topics:

• Will the proposed changes to the prudent person principle alter pension asset allocation strategies? Will the revised investment rules promote a risk-based investment culture by better channelling savings into long-term investments, thereby financing the EU's transitions and delivering higher returns to citizens?
• Will the proposed changes to the PEPP enhance its attractiveness and uptake across Member States? Will the Commission’s proposed amendments result in a successful pan-European personal pension product, or will the initiative fail due to significant divergences in national pension rules?
• How realistic are the proposed changes to the IORP II framework in reducing costs, fostering consolidation, and promoting more efficient occupational pension schemes, considering the vastly different starting points of EU Member States?
• Are these proposed changes sufficient to address the widening pensions gap? Is the shift towards multi-pillar systems that reinforce occupational and personal pension schemes the best scenario for EU Member States? What role should auto-enrolment play? What further initiatives should be considered?

Confirmed Speakers

• Damian Boeselager, Member of the European Parliament
• Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Member of the European Parliament

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation. We look forward to welcoming you!

This event is reserved for EPFSF members and EU institutions staff. For more information and registration, contact us at secretariat@epfsf.org