The European Parliament has announced that the session of the European Monetary Affairs Committee (EMAC) on February 6, which will discuss the Commission’s proposal for a directive on ‘Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision’ will be an open public hearing – allowing interested parties in the European pensions and investment industry to air their views.

The announcement follows hard on the heels of the publication last week by parliament rapporteur Austrian MEP Othmar Karas of a working document setting out the salient points for the forthcoming debate – as revealed on IPE-Newsline.

The meeting, which takes place in the European Parliament in room PHS 1A2 (PHS is one of the two European parliament buildings) from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Tuesday February 6, requires no registration, but all persons wishing to attend are advised to check in with security.

It will be co-chaired by Karas – a member of the European Christian Democrat party and German MEP Christa Randzio-Plath, a member of the Party of European Socialists and chairperson of EMAC.
Randzio-Plath also sits on the European Parliament Committee for Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities.

The occupational pensions directive is shaping up to be one of the most controversial to pass through the parliament in recent times, with opposing parties taking hard-line stances on issues such as biometric risk, which they believe should or should not be included in the legislation.

Details of the public hearing can be obtained by e-mailing the office of Othmar Karas - okaras@europarl.eu.int