Thomas Escritt
NewsING pension fund loses court case against Hungarian supervisor
Company overcharged members by investing in funds instead of equities, watchdog says.
NewsHungarian government accuses pension funds of 'fraudulent practices'
MP claims investigators have identified 'several billion forints' in missing yields.
- Country Report
Central and Eastern Europe: Decimated
Hungary’s mandatory pension system is in tatters following last year’s nationalisation of the sector’s assets, writes Thomas Escritt
- Country Report
Central and Eastern Europe: Sword of Damocles
Romania’s fiscal austerity has sheltered its nascent pension fund industry but the outlook is still unclear, writes Thomas Escritt
NewsHungarian move essentially spells end of mandatory funded pension pillar
Government says temporary, 14-month contribution freeze to be extended indefinitely.
NewsCzech Senate sends message by rejecting pensions reform bill
Raft of legislation would have created mandatory second-pillar funded pension system.
NewsCourt expected to rule Hungarian pensions grab unconstitutional
Ruling would come too late to save pension funds' €10bn in assets already transferred to government.
- News
Court ruling on 'discriminatory' transfer of Hungarian pension assets imminent
Government has further announced cancellation of FT7.5bn (€27m) worth of debt.
NewsCzech Republic to buck trend with funded pension system
Coalition to introduce funded pillar by diverting 3% of PAYG contributions to private pillar.
NewsVast majority of Hungary's second-pillar members return to state system
As few as four of 18 mandatory pension funds may survive after second-pillar pension system members bow to government pressure.
NewsHungary: Death by 1,000 cuts
Thomas Escritt charts the government's plans to nationalise supplementary pension funds.
- Special Report
Hungary: Death by 1000 cuts
Thomas Escritt charts the Hungarian government’s highly controversial plans to nationalise the country’s supplementary pension funds
NewsHungarian parliament OKs take-over of second-pillar pensions
HUNGARY – Hungary's parliament has passed a law that will force members of the country's second-pillar mandatory funds to hand their savings to the state, amid a growing chorus of criticism at home and abroad.
- News
EU ministers fail to address sanctions despite Hungary claim
EUROPE – The recent meeting of European Union finance ministers ended with no agreement on the treatment of countries with transitional excessive budget deficits arising from a pension reform.
News'Nightmare' in Hungary as government nationalises pension funds
HUNGARY – Hungary has announced plans to pull the plug on the country's mandatory, funded second-pillar pension system, provoking a chorus of protests from the European Commission, the country's pension funds and analysts.
NewsHungary's pension funds to sue over €1.5bn government contribution cuts
HUNGARY – Hungary's pension funds have turned to the country's constitutional court in a bid to overturn legislation that will deprive them of contributions for 14 months.
NewsHungary takes first steps toward dismantling private pension system
HUNGARY – The Hungarian government has embarked on a communications offensive to encourage the country's funded pension scheme members to opt back into the pay-as-you-go state pension pillar.
NewsHungary suspends payments into second pillar in 'hidden nationalisation'
HUNGARY – Hungary has suspended payments into its second-pillar private pension system in an effort to combat its budget shortfall.
FeaturesCEE: political changes add to uncertainty on pensions reform
Thomas Escritt looks at recent developments in the pensions systems of some of the regionís major economies
NewsHungary fights for control of its €9.5bn private pension system
HUNGARY - Hungary's World Bank-style three-pillar pension system is an international imposition, according to the prime minister’s top economics adviser, who said the country should be free to account for and structure its pension system as it sees fit.
