Kenneth Fuglemsmo

European Round Table of industrialists er en samling folk fra de største europeiske selskapene (medlemslisten ligger på www.ert.eu og omfatter blant annet Eivind Reiten - se bildet - fra Hydro og folk fra BP, ThyssenKrupp, Nokia osv.). I deres rapport Pension reform fra 2000, kom de blant annet med følgende anbefalinger til pensjonsreform for europeiske land:

To Member States, the ERT Recommends:

- Prioritise public pensions spending so that it does what the private sector cannot do, for example, guarantee a basic standard of living to the elderly.

- Aim for a proper balance between public and private pension provision with a significant funded component.

Raise the normal retirement age in line with that of some other Member States, and provide incentives for older workers to stay in the workforce beyond normal retirement age, if workers wish to do so.

Stop adding to the costs of pensions (e.g. by automatically linking benefits to nominal wages or promoting early retirement).

Open up a market for private pensions and stimulate greater competition between private pension providers.

Remove any obstacle to investing in equities in line with the “prudent man” principle. Stocks have proved to be an essential part of pension portfolios in order for pension funds to guarantee a successful performance and a good return on pension plans.

Promote social partnership with employees and industry in the provision of retirement income.

Encourage individuals to take responsibility for saving for their retirement.

Provide tax incentives for employee contributions to company-sponsored schemes.

Take away fiscal barriers to private pension investment.

Monitor more closely and more accurately the prospective costs of public pension systems.