Pan-European Personal Pension Product, a New Path Forward

Personal pension markets are unequally developed and personal pension products are unequally affordable across the European Union (EU). People who wish to save more for retirement need a greater choice of suitable personal pension products that rely on capital markets-based investments.The paper aims to present and explain the need for product diversity in the pension scheme. This kind of proposal should create a quality label for EU personal pension products and increase trust among consumers, but also could lead to complications and interference with the current system at national level. An EU initiative on personal pensions could therefore complement the current divergent rules at EU and national level by adding a pan-European framework for pension, for individuals who wish to use this additional saving option.