2001D0548 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSION DECISION
of 9 July 2001
on the setting-up of a committee in the area of supplementary pensions
(notified under document number C(2001) 1775)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2001/548/EC)
(OJ L 196, 20.7.2001, p. 26)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►A1 Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the
Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia,
the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of
Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the SlovakRepublic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the EuropeanUnion is foundedL 236 33 23.9.2003
▼B
COMMISSION DECISION
of 9 July 2001
on the setting-up of a committee in the area of supplementary
pensions
(notified under document number C(2001) 1775)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2001/548/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Communities,
and in particular Articles 138 and 140 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The European Commission, in its Social Policy Agenda of 28
June 2000, proposed to create a pensions forum to address theissue of pensions and mobility with all relevant actors by issuinga communication.
(2) The European Commission, in its communication ‘Towards asingle market for supplementary pensions’ of 11 May 1999(COM (1999) 134 final), supported the idea of setting up apensions forum, as put forward by the High-Level Panel onFreedom of Movement, and consequent decided to convene
such a forum to meet at least twice a year and to be made up
of representatives or governments, the social partners, pensionfunds and, where appropriate, other institutions active in thisarea.
(3) The European Parliament welcomed the Commission communi-cation and the setting-up of such a Committee in its resolutionconcerning the Commission communication ‘Towards a singlemarket for supplementary pensions’,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
1. A committee in the area of supplementary pensions (the pensions
forum) shall be set up at the Commission.
2. The pensions forum shall be composed of representatives of
Member States' governments, the social partners and supplementarypension schemes.
Article 2
1. The Commission may consult the pensions forum about any
problems and developments at Community level affecting supplemen-tary pensions.
The pensions forum shall assist the Commission in particular in finding
solutions to the problems and obstacles associated with cross-bordermobility of workers in the area of supplementary pensions.
2. The pensions forum shall work, where necessary, in cooperation
with any other appropriate bodies or committees dealing with social
and economic policy.
Article 3
1. The pensions forum shall comprise ►
A1 55◄members.
2. Seats shall be allocated as follows:
— one seat per Member State,
— four seats for the other EFA member countries (one seat for the
European Free Trade Association liaison office and one seat percountry involved),2001D0548 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 2
▼B
— 14 seats for the social partners represented at Community level,
— 12 seats for the pension funds and other bodies active in this area:
— three seats for the E.F.R.P. (European Federation for Retirement
Provision),
— one seat for each of the following bodies:
— FEFSI (European Federation of Investment Funds and
Companies)
— ACME (Association of European Cooperative and Mutual
Insurers)
— AIM (International Association for Mutual Assistance)— CEA (European Insurance Committee)— AEIP (European Association of Paritarian Institutions)
— EAPSPI (European Association of Public Sector Pension
Institutions)
— GCAACE (Groupe Consultatif des Associations d'actuaires
des pays de la CE)
— FBE (Banking Federation of the European Union)
— AGE (the European older people's platform).
Article 4
The members of the pensions forum shall be appointed by the Commis-
sion on the basis of nominations from the Member States, the other
countries making up the EEA, the social partners represented at
Community level and the other bodies listed in Article 3. The Commis-sion shall take all necessary measures to ensure balanced representationof the sexes.
Article 5
The term of office of members of the pensions forum shall be three
years. It may be renewed.
On expiry of their term of office, members of the pensions forum shall
continue in office until such time as they are replaced or reappointed.
A member's term of office shall terminate before expiry of the three-
year period in the event of resignation of death. A member's term ofoffice may also be terminated if the body which put him forward as a
candidate asks for him to be replaced.
The member shall be replaced for the remainder of the term of office.Members shall not receive payment for their work.
Article 6
The Commission shall publish the list of members for information in
the Official Journal of the European Communities .
Article 7
The pensions forum shall elect one chairman and two vice-chairmen
for a period of two years. They shall be elected by a two-thirdsmajority of the members present. The pensions forum shall be chairedby the representative of the relevant departments of Directorate General
for Employment and Social Affairs until the members of the pensions
forum elect a chairman.
Article 8
The pensions forum may invite any person with particular competence
in respect of an item included on the agenda to take part in its delibera-
tions as an expert.
Experts shall take part in the deliberations only in respect of the item
for which they have been invited to attend.2001D0548 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 3
▼B
Article 9
The pensions forum may set up working parties.
Article 10
1. The pensions forum shall be convened by the Commission and
shall meet at the Commission's offices.
2. Representatives of the Commission departments concerned shall
take part in meetings of the pensions forum and the working parties.
3. A Secretariat for the pensions forum and the working parties shall
be provided by the Commission.
Article 11
The pensions forum shall discuss matters on which the Commission has
requested an opinion. No vote shall be taken.
The Commission may, when seeking the opinion of the pensions
forum, set a time limit within which such opinion shall be given.
The positions adopted by the economic categories represented shall be
noted in the minutes, which shall be forwarded to the Commission.
The Commission shall make the results of discussions available to all
participants on requests of the latter.
Article 12
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 287 of the Treaty, the
members of the pensions forum shall be under an obligation not todisclose information which has come to their knowledge through the
work of the pensions forum or of its working parties, where the
Commission informs the latter that the opinion requested or the ques-tion raised in on a matter of a confidential nature.
In such cases, meetings shall be attended only by the members of the
pensions forum and the representatives of the Commission.
Article 13
The Commission shall assess the work and usefulness of the pensions
forum within two years of the entry into force of this Decision.
Article 14
This Decision comes into force on the day of its adoption.2001D0548 — EN — 01.05.2004 — 001.001 — 4