2001/548/EC: Commission Decision of 9 July 2001 on the setting-up of a committee in the area of supplementary pensions (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 1775)
Date: 2001-07-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: advisory committee (EU), job mobility, supplementary pension

L 196/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

20.7.2001

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

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,

Article 2

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Communities, and in particular Articles 138 and 140 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The European Commission, in its Social Policy Agenda
of 28 June 2000, proposed to create a pensions forum
to address the issue of pensions and mobility with all
relevant actors by issuing a communication.

in its

communication
The European Commission,
‘Towards a single market for supplementary pensions’ of
11 May 1999 (COM (1999) 134 final), supported the
idea of setting up a pensions forum, as put forward by
the High-Level Panel on Freedom 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, pension funds and,
where appropriate, other institutions active in this area.

The European Parliament welcomed the Commission
communication and the setting-up of such a Committee
in its resolution concerning the Commission communi-
cation ‘Towards a single market
for supplementary
pensions’,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

A committee in the area of supplementary pensions (the

1.
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 supple-
mentary pension schemes.

The Commission may consult the pensions forum about
1.
any problems and developments at Community level affecting
supplementary pensions.

The pensions forum shall assist the Commission in particular
in finding solutions to the problems and obstacles associated
with cross-border mobility of workers in the area of supple-
mentary pensions.

in
The pensions forum shall work, where necessary,
2.
cooperation with any other appropriate bodies or committees
dealing with social and economic policy.

Article 3

1.

2.

The pensions forum shall comprise 45 members.

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 per country involved),

— 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.
Retirement Provision),

(European Federation for

— one seat for each of the following bodies:

— FEFSI

(European Federation of

Investment Funds

and Companies)

— ACME (Association of European Cooperative and

Mutual Insurers)

20.7.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 196/27

— AIM (International Association for Mutual Assis-

tance)

Experts shall take part in the deliberations only in respect of
the item for which they have been invited to attend.

— CEA (European Insurance Committee)
— AEIP (European Association of Paritarian Institu-

tions)
— EAPSPI

(European Association of Public Sector

Pension Institutions)

— GCAACE (Groupe Consultatif des Associations d'ac-

tuaires des pays de la CE)

— FBE (Banking Federation of the European Union)
— AGE (the European older people's platform).

Article 4

the other countries making up the EEA,

The members of the pensions forum shall be appointed by the
Commission on the basis of nominations from the Member
States,
the social
partners represented at Community level and the other bodies
listed in Article 3. The Commission shall take all necessary
measures to ensure balanced representation of 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 of office 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 informa-
tion 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
the members present. The pensions
two-thirds majority of
forum shall be chaired by the representative of the relevant
departments of Directorate General for Employment and Social
Affairs until
the pensions forum elect a
chairman.

the members of

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 deliberations as an expert.

The pensions forum may set up working parties.

Article 9

Article 10

The pensions forum shall be convened by the Commis-

1.
sion and shall meet at the Commission's offices.

Representatives

2.
departments
the
concerned shall take part in meetings of the pensions forum
and the working parties.

Commission

of

A Secretariat for the pensions forum and the working

3.
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 to disclose 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 question 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 Commis-
sion.

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.

Done at Brussels, 9 July 2001.

For the Commission

Anna DIAMANTOPOULOU

Member of the Commission