A coronavirus crisis statement from EIOPA addressed to national supervisors has drawn positive words from lobby groups PensionsEurope and the European Association of Paritarian Institutions (AEIP).

Both organisations noted there was alignment between what the EU supervisory authority said and what they had said in their own previously published statements.

Published on Friday, EIOPA’s statement sets out “principles to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the occupational pensions sector in Europe”.

It also revealed that EIOPA had extended the deadlines for data to be reported by IORPs – by two weeks for Q1 occupational pensions information, and by eight weeks for full year-end 2019 information.

“The concrete measure of extending by several weeks the obligation of IORPs to provide information to EIOPA is a positive development,” said Bruno Gabellieri, secretary general at AEIP. “Just like EIOPA we stressed the need to prioritise the continuity of key operational activities.”

Matti Leppälä, chief executive officer of PensionsEurope, said he was happy that EIOPA prioritised what needed to be done – “first things first,” he said.

“Operational continuity, serving members and beneficiaries, paying out pensions and managing contributions, investments and safeguarding assets are priorities,” he added.

“PensionsEurope is very pleased that EIOPA asks national authorities for proportionality in dealing with various issues, and relaxes its own reporting requirements and asks national authorities for flexibility in national reporting standards.”

Another point welcomed by PensionsEurope and AEIP was EIOPA recognising the stabilising role that IORPs could play as long-term investors in the current economic context.

Leppälä, CEO of PensionsEurope, said: “This is due to the fact that there isn’t any harmonised framework that would push pension funds to pro-cyclical actions in this market turmoil.

“It is very good that EIOPA recognises the diversity of the European pension landscape and the crucial role the national supervisors and regulators have.”

Liquidity pressures, DC points

AEIP’s Gabellieri noted that EIOPA’s position recognised that IORPs may face liquidity pressures and stressed the importance of protecting members and beneficiaries.

According to Leppälä, at the time of writing PensionsEurope members had not reported problems with respect to liquidity.

“Crucial,” in his mind, is EIOPA’s “message of finding the appropriate balance between safeguarding the long-term interests of members and beneficiaries and short-term impacts on especially the sponsor companies”.

EIOPA’s statement also addressed issues particular to defined contribution (DC) schemes, noting that national supervisors, where relevant in collaboration with the national legislator, should allow plan members to choose delayed application of lump sum payments or of mandatory annuitisation.

EIOPA also said national authorities should expect DC pension funds’ communication to aim to “discourage potential short-term decisions by plan members that may jeopardise long-term pension outcomes”. 

In the UK the pension and financial regulators joined forces to urge DC savers directly not to rush any decisions about their pensions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paritarian institutions, which are common in many European countries, are social protection institutions established and managed by employers and trade unions on a joint basis within the framework of collective agreements.

These include pension funds, healthcare, unemployment and provident schemes, and paid holiday schemes. PensionsEurope and AEIP have some members in common. 

Topics