News

07/08/2012 17:27:46

EU hits back at pensions claims

The European Commission has issued a robust response to criticism levelled at it by the former secretary of state for work and pensions John Hutton in a national newspaper.

Mr Hutton, who now works for the coalition, had written in the Financial Times on Sunday (August 5th) that the EU is set to introduce Solvency II regulations, which will contribute to the "demise of defined benefit pensions across Europe".

However, in a riposte issued in the same newspaper today (August 7th), Michel Barnier, the European commissioner for the internal market and services, denied that any decisions had been taken and that "there would be no copy and paste from Solvency II".

"Yes, we need more occupational pension funds," he said. "No, the European Commission will not put occupational pensions at risk."

Mr Barnier added that the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority will begin a study into making amendments to pension regulations shortly.