The Netherlands and Germany are ready to connect their national pension registers to the European Tracking Service (ETS), but legal barriers are preventing them from doing so.
The ETS provides information on pension entitlements of mobile workers who have accrued savings in multiple European countries. It is organised as a public-private partnership of national pension tracking services under German law.
According to ETS director Claudia Wegner-Wahnschaffe, 30 million EU citizens potentially benefit from the service, as they have accrued pension rights in the first, second and/or third pillar across different jurisdictions.
In addition to the 27 EU member states, the ETS also covers Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
So far, only the Belgian and French national pension registers share data with the ETS, limiting the platform’s practical use.
At a meeting in Brussels this week, Wegner-Wahnschaffe announced that three more countries intend to share data with the ETS, with Croatia set to join in 2026.
The Netherlands is technically ready to connect, but is held back by legislation, according to Stefan Taubert, director of the Dutch pension register.
Taubert told IPE that Dutch pension law does not currently permit data sharing with organisations other than domestic administrators.
“Our lawyers have concluded that this is not possible, because it is not explicitly stated in the law that it is allowed. To make it possible to share the data, the law must therefore be amended,” he said.
Germany faces a similar issue, a source at the federal Ministry of Work and Social Affairs told IPE.
Opinions differ on how Dutch legislation should be changed to allow ETS participation. Sources said the Ministry of Social Affairs believes a parliamentary vote is required – a process that would only start after next month’s general election. However, Taubert said there is political consensus behind a change.
“Everyone I talk to about this is in favour of sharing our pension data with the ETS. We also have everything ready, so we can get it started easily. In fact, it’s just one push of a button,” he said.
Some industry representatives believe approval could also be granted by ministerial decree. “If it has to be done through parliament, then it will take two years to make it happen,” according to a source close to the matter.
A spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs said it remains “in consultation” with the Dutch pension federation about the route forward.
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