Pensions

Conference: transfer-out of pension rights

*Update 03.10.2024 a transfer out to a PMO-approved scheme, such as the one presented by the (external) Allianz broker is only one of several options available.*

*Update 01.10.2024 full list of PMO-approved schemes added.* *Update 26.09.2024 footnote on local agents added below.* Continue reading Conference: transfer-out of pension rights

Securing pensions for Contract & Temporary Agents during unemployment

*Update 12.03.2025 refusing a contract renewal is counted as resigning, this is not new, but the information could be made clearer.*

Original article: Your Contract Agent CA3B (or a different non-permanent) contract at the European Commission has ended. Despite your determination to continue contributing to the EU project, you can no longer work directly for the Commission (e.g. you have reached six years as CA3B).  You can work for another institution or for the Commission,  but on a different contract than CA3B.

Continue reading Securing pensions for Contract & Temporary Agents during unemployment

Lunchtime conference: the implementation of the Picard decision in the Commission

The European Commission has recently published the Conclusion 287/24 on the Picard judgement about pension rights and how it wants to implement it. During a Generation 2004 lunch-time conference on 29 April we explained what this conclusion means for you and which category of staff must consider taking actions. Continue reading Lunchtime conference: the implementation of the Picard decision in the Commission

More missing contributions for a pension transfer-in

While it is possible to take your pensions contributions from national systems and put them into the pension scheme of the European Union institutions (PSEUI), this is often a long-drawn-out process and it can be rather opaque. We recently highlighted the general exclusion of Member State ‘gifted’ contributions (e.g. covering times of military service or caring duties) from transfers-in and of a failed court case to try to recover the contributions where their inclusion made no difference. Now we cover a further potential complication which is delays in Member States doing their part in this process. Continue reading More missing contributions for a pension transfer-in

Conference: transfer-out of pension rights

By popular demand, the pension transfer-out event will take place again in March. The powerpoint is available by email from the Allianz broker. Additional questions from the original presentation (16.01.2024) are added and answered in our transfer-out FAQ. There will be a presentation and then a question and answer session. What does it mean to transfer out of the pension scheme of the European Union institutions (PSEUI)? Who has to do this? What are the options available?

Continue reading Conference: transfer-out of pension rights

Flash report on the Local Agents’ Provident Fund

The pension benefits system for local staff in Delegations (Provident Fund for Local Agents (‘PFLA‘)) has lost over 5% of its value. This means that the amount of money local agents (LA) receive at the end of their career (through employer and employee contributions) is falling. Continue reading Flash report on the Local Agents’ Provident Fund

One more pension pitfall, or how the Commission fails to keep up

*Update 20.11.2024 We add this cross reference in relation to questions received. Even though the PSEUI does not recognise pension contributions ‘gifted’ by national schemes, it deals with non-work-related pension contributions made to its own system differently: see question 4 General pension FAQs*

Original article: It’s been some time now (in many cases decades) since it became possible to have pension contributions made on your behalf in many Member States while you are not working. These ‘gifted’ contributions might cover periods of long-term sickness, of unemployment, military service[1] or of caring responsibilities, depending on the national authority. Continue reading One more pension pitfall, or how the Commission fails to keep up

The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ

*Update 05.11.2025, we’ve received several emails asking about a second Picard-related case. We believe that this relates to those who have become officials and so have added a heading below. If this is not what is meant by ‘Picard 2.0’ or you have any info, please share it and we’ll add it here, thanks!*

Original article: In April, we informed you during a lunchtime conference about the judgement in the Picard case and its far-reaching consequences for (former) Contract Agents (CAs) and temporary agents (TAs) or more precisely: staff that were previously covered by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS). Continue reading The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ

Be aware of lost money for a pension transfer-in

*Update 06.11.2025 here is the link to retirement info on staff matters.*

 Original article: Are you (relatively) new in the institutions? Have you worked somewhere else before and acquired pension rights in another pension scheme? Then you have surely heard about the possibilities to transfer your pension rights from your previous scheme into the EU pension scheme, a so called “transfer-in”. In an older article, we already informed you about the conversion coefficients that play a crucial role in determining how many years Continue reading Be aware of lost money for a pension transfer-in

Lunchtime conference: the Picard case

*Update 23.06.2023: HR MyIntracomm article.* Do you want to know more about the recent Picard judgement C-366/21 P concerning Contract Agent (CA) pension rights? This case has repercussions on pension accrual and also on retirement age. We presented the different aspects of the judgement in this during our lunch-time conference. You can find the recorded video and the PowerPoint presentation  here.

Continue reading Lunchtime conference: the Picard case