The European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on 23 June 2026 held a hearing on intergenerational solidarity through decent pensions, exposing divisions over reinforcing public versus private pension systems, the pace of later retirement, and the role of life-course policies. The hearing, which examined pressures from ageing, longer lives, lower fertility, youth unemployment, fragmented careers, platform work, and gender inequality, saw broad consensus on the need for quality jobs and gender equality as preconditions for pension adequacy, but sharp disagreements emerged on specific policy directions.
Leila Chaibi (The Left) warned against pan-European personal pension products, arguing they would weaken public systems, while Maravillas Abadía (EPP) stressed the need for sustainability to protect younger contributors. On retirement age, Estelle Ceulemans (S&D) rejected unavoidable pension cuts and called for quality jobs instead of later retirement, while Donna Bachmann of the European Commission noted falling replacement rates and the need for longer careers. Life-course approaches saw broad support, with Niels Geuking (EPP) linking sustainability to family policy. Gender and class inequalities were highlighted, with Romana Jerković (S&D) focusing on the gender pension gap and Salvina Spasova (ASPEN) noting unequal access to flexible retirement. Demographic decline was framed as a political choice, with Gordan Bosanac (Greens/EFA) pointing to East-West gaps.
Key speakers included Bernhard Ebbinghaus (University of Mannheim), who highlighted tensions between sustainability and adequacy; Marina Monaco (ETUC), arguing for strong first-pillar public pensions; Chiara Piccoli (Learning for Wellbeing Foundation), stressing life-course investment in gender equality, education, and care; and Salvina Spasova, mapping flexible retirement pathways. EU coordination was discussed, with Donna Bachmann outlining Commission work on financing, long-term care, and housing. Next steps include a 2027 Commission report on pension and long-term care adequacy.
reinforcing public pensions would protect low-income retirees but increase fiscal pressure on younger contributors; expanding private pensions could boost sustainability but widen inequality. Later retirement could ease pension system strain but harm older workers in physically demanding jobs. Life-course policies, such as investing in education and care, could improve long-term adequacy but require upfront public spending. Stakeholders most impacted include EU workers (especially women and those with fragmented careers), pensioners, national governments (facing fiscal constraints), and private pension providers (who would benefit from expanded private schemes).