Insurance Europe supports but questions pan-European pension product
Insurance Europe has said it supports the overall project to create a pan-European pension product (PEPP).
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority’s (EIOPA) has advised to to the European Commission that an EU single market for personal pension products should be developed.
Nicolas Jeanmart, head of personal insurance, general insurance & macroeconomics at Insurance Europe, said “Insurance Europe supports the overall project to create a PEPP and welcomes EIOPA’s acknowledgement that it should be a true pension product. However, a number of questions arise from the proposed treatment of the main characteristics of a pension product — ie, minimum investment periods and a decumulation phase.
“In Insurance Europe’s view, it is key that the product envisaged by EIOPA features minimum investment periods, allowing consumers to access the benefits of long-term investments. Of equal importance is that the decumulation phase is given appropriate consideration in the product design, with the aim of guaranteeing the best outcome for consumers. Otherwise, the PEPP could end up being more like a short-term investment, rather than a long-term pension product.
Jeanmart also said that that Insurance Europe is concerned about the link that EIOPA’s advice makes between packaged retail and insurance-based investment products and the proposed PEPP, given that the two are not easily compatible.
Insurance Europe maintains that the overarching priority should be to ensure that the information provided to future pensioners helps them to make appropriate decisions for their retirement. This requires focused and targeted pension information, Jeanmart said.
“Insurance Europe will respond to the consultation launched with the advice and will remain closely engaged with the PEPP project to contribute towards a solution that is suitable for the retirement needs of European citizens,” he added.
