The Opinion concludes a cycle of almost three years of EIOPA's own-initiative work and is addressed to the EU co-legislators (European Parliament and Council) and the European Commission.
EIOPA recommends strengthening the European regulation applicable to IORPs with a standardised risk assessment to calculate the impact of common, pre-defined stress scenarios on the common framework's balance sheet of a pension fund. The common framework sets out that assets and liabilities on the balance sheet – which is set up for the very purpose of the standard risk assessment - have to be valued on a market-consistent basis and include all available security and benefit adjustment mechanisms, such as sponsor support, pension protection schemes and benefit reductions. However, at this point in time, EIOPA does not advise on harmonising capital or funding requirements.
EIOPA is of the opinion that IORPs should be transparent towards plan members, sponsors and other interested parties through regular public disclosure of the market-consistent balance sheet and the outcome of standardised risk assessment. Consequently, national supervisors should be provided with sufficient powers to act in response to the conclusions of the standardised risk assessment.
To minimise the burden on smaller IORPs, EIOPA recommends that the standardised risk assessment is applied in a proportionate manner, allowing for simplified methods and approaches. In addition, EIOPA's Opinion allows for the possibility to exempt small IORPs and to lower the frequency of their risk assessment from annually to once every three years.
Gabriel Bernardino, Chairman of EIOPA, said: "This Opinion presents a major step forward towards realistic, risk-sensitive information on the financial situation of pension funds. EIOPA's recommendations to modernise the European regulation of pension funds aim at supporting the occupational pensions sector to meet its current and future challenges.
Relevant transparent disclosure will trigger a dialogue on the long-term sustainability of occupational pension promises and encourage timely adjustments. As such, our recommendations contribute to the protection of pension scheme members and beneficiaries and to a fair distribution of shortfalls between generations".
The Opinion to the EU Institutions on a Common Framework for Risk Assessment and Transparency for IORPs can be accessed from EIOPA's website
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