EUROPE – Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs got their first chance to chew over the proposed directive on pension portability rights this week.

Irish MEP Eoin Ryan, the committee’s “rapporteur” on the measure, presented his draft opinion on the directive at a meeting in Brussels.

The report is critical of several aspects of the proposal and calls on the sister Committee on Employment and Social Affairs to take its amendments on board.

“This was very much an initial discussion, and the first opportunity for members to have a look at it,” a committee spokesperson told IPE.

According to the spokesperson, Ryan stated the European Commission was “over selling” its proposal a bit, in that “it isn’t the grand solution to everything”.

He also raised concerns about complicated details which require closer examination, and which may create additional difficulties, such as vested pension rights.

The economic committee members will have until the end of May to table proposed amendments to Ryan’s draft opinion. A vote on an amended opinion is likely to occur in June.

“There will also be representations made to them, no doubt, by people in their own countries, lobbyists, industry representatives, and the like,” said the spokesperson.

The amended opinion will then be sent to the Employment and Social Affairs Committee – the lead committee on this report – for further consideration ahead of its final report to the plenary session.

The Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities Committee, and the Internal Market Committee will also send opinions to the Employment and Social Affairs Committee.

“I believe the Employment and Social Affairs Committee is not due to vote on this until September, which is why the economics committee has given itself a relatively gentle timetable to deal with it so it can consider it properly,” said the spokesperson.

The Employment and Social Affairs Committee is not obliged to accept the proposed amendments by the other committees.

“If they are specifically within the real area of expertise of one of these special committees, then they’ll probably accept them but it’s up to them, they can make their own decision,” said the spokesperson.

He added that there could be a number of amendments to Ryan’s draft.

“But it’s unlikely to be a matter of extreme controversy,” he continued.

“There are probably going to be lots of changes to detail since its one of those subjects where there’s going to be a lot of lobbying interest, I’m sure.”

Employment and Social Affairs Committee rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten could not be reached for comment.

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