About: pensions
Pension schemes in EU show big shortfalls in stress test
A stress test of pension schemes across the European Union wiped out €270 billion or almost a quarter of investments at funds that took part, the EU's insurance and pensions watchdog said on Tuesday (17 December).
Strong mobilisation against pension reform puts French government to the test
In protest at the government's pension reform proposal, French workers staged a massive strike on Thursday (5 December), which paralysed the country. With teachers and transport sector workers expected to strike again today, this will be Macron's ultimate test. EURACTIV France reports.
Greek parliament approves first post-bailout budget
Greek lawmakers approved on Tuesday (18 December) the country's first post-bailout budget which projects a high primary surplus next year and sees a pick-up in economic growth.
As finances improve, Greece scraps pension cuts
Greece's parliament on Tuesday (11 December) voted to scrap plans to cut state pensions, in a motion led by the left-led governing coalition hoping to shore up its flagging support ahead of a general election next year.
German coalition talks: Between old-age poverty and cannabis legalisation
The first round of the German coalition talks on social policy was a meeting to get an initial feeling for where the parties stand. However, some common things are emerging: in the fight against old-age poverty, shortage of nurses and long-term unemployment. EURACTIV Germany reports.
‘Demographic dependency’ casts shadow over employment report
Young people in Europe will be squeezed by shrinking pensions and demographic change, adding pressure to under 25-year-olds who are already weighed down by a stubbornly high unemployment rate.
Commission struggles with tax exemptions in EU-wide pension proposal
European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis admitted on Thursday (8 June) that full harmonisation across Europe, for the tax regime applied to the upcoming EU-wide personal pension insurance, was "unlikely".
ECAS: National administrations ‘lack EU spirit’
A “negative attitude” and a “lack of EU spirit” for solving issues such as issuing residence permits and claiming pensions was decried by representatives of the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) at a public event on Wednesday (12 April).
Rajoy outlines 2017 plan, hopes for minimal Brexit disruption
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has told the presidents of Spain's autonomous communities that improving the country's welfare state could be possible but will depend entirely on getting back to pre-economic crisis levels. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Stumped by transgender pension case, UK top court seeks EU help
A complex legal dispute involving a transgender woman's pension rights over a period when her gender had not been officially recognised has divided Britain's Supreme Court, which referred the issue on Wednesday (10 August) to the European Union's top court.
Greece’s proposed pension reforms get no backing from opposition
Greece's leftist-led government offered a reform plan for the country's pension system that would cut future benefits, with no backing from the political opposition, before talks with official lenders resume later this month.
Europe’s low interest rates a headache for corporate pensions
Historically low interest rates in the eurozone are becoming an increasing headache for companies forced to set aside billions in extra cash to meet their pension obligations to employees.![Ex-Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, in the European Parliament. [EP]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/jyrki_katainen_0.jpeg)
Interim commissioner bonuses branded ‘excessive’
Interim EU commissioners, elected in July, will receive roughly half a million euros for just four months of work, along with a bonus and pension plan comparable to fully-fledged commissioners. This system needs reform, critics contend. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Renzi rules out rising taxes, cutting pensions
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi denied yesterday (21 August) that his government planned to raise taxes, cut pensions or adopt corrective measures to rein in the budget deficit this year.
European Court: Male civil servants discriminated against in France
The European Court of Justice has pointed the finger at unequal retirement plans between men and women in the French civil service. EURACTIV France reports.
Retirees help out their crisis-hit kids
Record-high unemployment across southern Europe has led relatively prosperous retirees to provide an informal safety net, via their pensions, for their children, in order to fight widespread poverty.
Pensioner shoots himself at Greek Parliament, refused to ‘search for food in garbage’
A cash-strapped Greek pensioner shot and killed himself outside parliament in Athens today (4 April) saying he refused to scrounge for food in rubbish, touching a nerve among ordinary Greeks feeling the brunt of the country's economic crisis.
Poll: EU not worried about getting older, working longer
The numbers of working Europeans between 55 and 64 has leapt by 10% in the last decade, say statistics published today on the launch of the EU’s year of active and healthy ageing.
Linking retirement to life expectancy ‘saves welfare’
As the French government reels from a series of strikes and protests over its plan to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, a leading Brussels policy expert warns of more trouble ahead across Europe unless governments are frank with voters about the fundamental reforms required to grapple with the looming demographic crisis.
Experts: ‘EU pension proposal will hit women much harder than men’
A European Commission roadmap for reforming EU pensions to be presented later this month has received a broad welcome, though some experts warned that the proposals fail to take sufficient account of gender issues and "would hit women much harder than men".Andor: ‘I tried to give the best possible answers’
At his hearing at the European Parliament, Hungarian Commissioner-designate László Andor was criticised for providing "too general" answers. But many of the questions themselves were also too general, Andor told EURACTIV Hungary in an interview.
Commission defends proposals on pension ‘portability’
Despite failing to reach an agreement with the other EU institutions, the Commission has been sufficiently encouraged by two academic studies to carry on its work on the transferability of company pension schemes when workers move across borders.
Ministers to adopt slimmed-down labour market proposals
Employment ministers gathering in Brussels on 5 and 6 December are set to adopt dossiers on flexicurity, company pensions and temporary agency work. Some projects, however, will only be presented as watered-down versions.