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Webinar on Pensions - Webinar

OCCUPATIONAL PENSIONS AND THE SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT UNION: STRENGTHENING EUROPE'S CAPITAL MARKETS

24 April 2026
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Webinar on the role of pensions in Europe in the context of ageing populations and economic challenges. It explores the three-pillar system, the contribution of pension funds to long-term investment, and their impact on financial security in retirement.

11:00 - 12:00(CEST)

About

About the Event

Europe is facing a structural challenge: populations are ageing while public finances remain under pressure. At the same time, the European Union is seeking ways to mobilise long-term capital through the Savings and Investment Union. In this context, pension systems are becoming central to both retirement security and capital market development.

Occupational pension funds already play a major role as long-term institutional investors across Europe. Their investment horizons, governance structures and scale make them natural contributors to financing economic growth, infrastructure and innovation. The question now is how these systems can evolve within the broader European agenda while preserving their core purpose: providing stable and adequate retirement income.

This webinar will explore the place of occupational pensions within Europe’s three-pillar pension architecture. The discussion will look at how public pensions, employer-based schemes and individual long-term savings interact, and how these pillars differ across national systems while responding to common demographic and economic pressures.

The conversation will also examine how pension funds contribute to deep and stable capital markets, and why long-term savings mechanisms remain essential for the sustainability of European pension systems. Finally, the panel will touch on an issue that increasingly concerns citizens directly: how accumulated pension capital is managed when individuals approach retirement.

Learning Outcomes:

By attending this webinar, participants will:

Understand the role of occupational pensions in the Savings and Investment Union
Gain insight into how pension funds contribute to long-term investment and the development of European capital markets.

Explore the structure of Europe’s three-pillar pension system
Learn how public pensions, occupational schemes, and voluntary retirement savings interact within national and European frameworks.

Examine the link between pension savings and capital market development
Understand how long-term pension assets can support economic growth while safeguarding the interests of savers.

Reflect on retirement planning and the transition to retirement income
Consider how pension systems and financial guidance support citizens as they approach retirement and make decisions about managing their accumulated savings.

 

 

 

About the Experts

Matti Leppälä

Matti Leppälä

Secretary General/CEO

PensionsEurope

Matti Leppälä is the Secretary General/CEO of PensionsEurope, a leading organization representing the interests of the pensions sector in Europe. With a wealth of experience in pension policy and financial regulation, Leppälä has played a pivotal role in shaping the pension landscape across Europe. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in advocating for pension reform and has been a key figure in discussions on the future of pension provision in the European Union. His leadership at PensionsEurope has seen the organization grow in influence and has helped to promote best practices and policy development in the pensions sector.
Jana Bour

Jana Bour

Director of Policy and Advocacy

Impact Europe

Jana Bour is Director of Policy and Advocacy at Impact Europe, with over a decade of experience in EU policymaking across sustainable finance, the social economy, and cross-sector advocacy. She previously led EU policy at EPRA, advancing work on the EU Green Deal and Sustainable Finance and launching the SFDR Working Group. Jana represents Impact Europe in the European Commission’s GECES Expert Group (2024–2030) as Co-Rapporteur for Access to Finance and serves as an Advisory Member to the ESF+ SI+ Initiative. She has also been a jury member of the European Pensions Awards. She began her career at the European Parliament, UIPI, and BDO, and holds a law degree in European Law from Maastricht University, as well as an Executive Certificate from INSEAD.
Roger Hartmann

Roger Hartmann

Board Director

EFPA Europe

Roger Hartmann is a distinguished board member at EFPA Europe, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization's strategic direction and policy advocacy. With a career marked by significant achievements in the financial sector, Hartmann has been instrumental in advancing pension reform and fostering collaboration among European financial institutions. His extensive experience includes key positions in both the public and private sectors, where he has consistently demonstrated leadership in driving policy changes and economic development. As a board member of EFPA Europe, Hartmann brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the intricacies of Central and Eastern European affairs.
Sébastien Commain

Sébastien Commain

Research and Policy Officer

BETTER FINANCE

Sébastien Commain is a dedicated Research and Policy Officer at BETTER FINANCE, a non-profit organization advocating for better financial regulation and corporate governance across Europe. In his role, he has been instrumental in shaping policy discussions and influencing regulatory frameworks within the financial sector. Commain has made significant contributions to the organization's efforts in promoting transparency and investor protection. His work has been recognized for its impact on fostering a more resilient and accountable financial ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe. Commain's affiliations and collaborations with various European institutions and regulatory bodies have further enhanced his reputation as a thought leader in the field.
Andreea Lungu

Andreea Lungu

Lead Policy Expert

CEE Perspective

Andreea Lungu is a seasoned policy expert and moderator, currently serving as a representative for PensionsEurope with a focus on the Central and Eastern European (CEE) perspective. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in shaping pension policy discussions and has been a key contributor to various influential forums and events. Her work has consistently highlighted the importance of sustainable pension systems and their impact on economic stability within the CEE region. Lungu's affiliations and collaborations with prominent organizations have further solidified her reputation as a thought leader in her field.

Resources

Financial Health of Europeans – Quantitative Research Report 2025

A comprehensive quantitative study by EFPA and BETTER FINANCE, authored by Prof. Katarzyna Sekścińska (University of Warsaw), examining the financial health of Europeans across 12 Member States. The report covers financial literacy, saving and investment behaviours, retirement preparedness, attitudes towards money, financial goal-setting, and self-assessed financial knowledge — with the aim of identifying key indicators and predictors of financial well-being across Europe.

EFPA Submission to EIOPA's Call for Evidence on the DC Pensions Toolkit

EFPA's detailed response to EIOPA's Call for Evidence informing the development of a DC pensions toolkit. Covers 22 questions across coverage, contributions, portability, accumulation and decumulation design, value for money, governance, transparency, and the impact of emerging trends such as AI on supplementary DC pensions across EU Member States.

EFPA Response to ESMA's Call for Evidence on the Retail Investor Journey

Survey-based response from 989 EFPA-certified financial advisors across Europe, submitted to ESMA in July 2025. Identifies key barriers to retail investment — including lack of financial literacy, fear of loss, biased advice, and regulatory complexity — with actionable recommendations on disclosure, suitability assessments, and advisor qualification standards.

EFPA Response to the European Commission's Consultation on Saving and Investment Accounts

EFPA's position paper on the design of a pan-European saving and investment account framework. Addresses financial education, tiered product design, advisor qualification requirements, minimum time horizons, cost governance, portability across providers, and phased fiscal implementation strategy.

The Future Pan-European Pension Product: Realising PEPP's Potential for Pension Adequacy

BETTER FINANCE paper analyzing the slow uptake of the Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) in the EU. It defends keeping the 1% fee cap, simplifying the product drawing inspiration from US IRAs, and calls on Member States to grant equal tax treatment to boost adoption.