EU-watchers are speculating that Commissioner Mario Monti could present the Pensions Green Paper this month at a conference hosted by Bocconi University in Milan, Italy's foremost business school of which he is the former dean.

The conference to be held on June 13, will include among its speakers the Director of the Bank of Italy.

Monti, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Financial Services, has been tipped as a possible prime minister in light of the Prodi governement's recent difficulties.