C& E. EUROPE – A four million euro EU funded project to provide expertise and “enhance the design, implementation and sustainability” of pension reform in Central and Eastern Europe is seeking experienced pension professionals within companies to provide input to the scheme.

The Tacis Russia Action Programme 2002, part of the Tacis programme launched in 1991, provides 12 European and central Asian countries with technical pensions assistance. It is looking for up to eight EU or EU accession country resident professionals in the field.

Potential candidates should present their application by April 5 2004, and would be expected to provide analysis and recommendations to further develop the legislative basis for occupational pension systems in these countries.

They would also be expected to contribute to a forum in which open information about the pension reform was presented and also to build institutional capacity in key areas of reform implementation.

Experience in the design of pension reforms in the enlarged EU and/or countries in transition in Central and Eastern Europe and in at least one technical assistance project with a contract value a minimum of one million euros in the last three years is also required.

Candidates will be assessed on their: “ financial standing”, average annual turnover, professional capacity and number of staff members, which should be at least 20.

Tacis says preference will be given to people with international management experience of projects of at least one million euros and experience in “ the design of the legislative basis for occupational pension schemes” in the enlarged EU.

Official applications for the project, due to last 30 months should be written in English.

Contact with the Tacis programme can be made via the EuropeAid Co-operation Office, Brussels
+32 22991111
europeaid@cec.eu.int