Improving the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights in order to enhance worker mobility

The Council made progress towards reaching political agreement on a common position concerning a draft Directive regarding the minimum requirements for enhancing working mobility by improving the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights (see Council documents 15515/07 ADD1, ADD3). However, following intensive discussions, it was recognised that the required unanimity could not be attained, certain issues remaining unsolved, in particular, the duration of the vesting period. Work on this file should continue under the forthcoming presidencies.

In a context where pension schemes established in the framework of an employment relationship – supplementary pension schemes – are becoming increasingly important for covering the risks of old age in the member states, the draft Directive aims to facilitate the free movement of workers, both between and within member states, by improving opportunities for those who change employers to acquire and preserve supplementary pension rights.