Implementation of a European Tracking Service for pensions

Cross-border pension tracking can support the process of modernisation and digitalisation of social protection systems across Europe through the provision of its digital service, providing structured information on pension benefits via a centralised European platform. This has the potential to substantially improve communication on pensions also at national level.

The main purposes of the call are to facilitate the access of workers who exercise their right to free movement to pension information, thus contributing to their pension awareness and pension adequacy, and to support the capacity of national pension schemes to provide such information, in particular to former members who have moved to another country, by bringing together information information from pension sources in different Member States, preferably NTSs, and present it in a meaningful way for the user – mobile worker or citizen.

The cross-border pension tracking services shall be established on a not-for-profit basis and provide the pension information to users free of charge.

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• develop and operate an online service that allows users (cross-border workers and citizens) to receive, free of charge, in a user friendly format, through a web portal or application, at least the following information:
• database of pension providers with search functionality that helps mobile workers identify and contact their former pension providers, covering all 27 EU Member States at the end of the project period;
• access to individual pension information (such as the current value of pension entitlements held in different schemes and, where available, the projected value of pension rights or benefit level at the retirement age) from at least five to seven Member States;
• implement and develop an appropriate governance structure, allowing for future geographical expansion of the service;
• develop and expand a network of pension institutions and stakeholders throughout the 5 years project period, building the commitment to extend cross-border tracking services to additional EU Member States; encourage existing and newly established NTSs to participate in cross-border pension tracking, including through facilitating agreement as regards the data model and standards;
• raise awareness of the cross-border tracking service among the end users, national authorities, social partners and the wider stakeholder community;
• monitor the use and regularly evaluate the service from the perspective of end users;
• develop a strategy for long-term development of cross-border tracking services in the EU beyond the time frame of the present project, including ensuring the financial sustainability.

These objectives should be implemented gradually over the project’s 5-year timeline, according to following milestones:

1. Within 36 months from the signature of the Grant Agreement:
   1. Further improve the functionality of the online service/web portal, extend and complete the pension provider database to at least all 27 EU Member States;
   2. Provide access to individual pension information from at least three Member States (such as the current value of pension entitlements held in different schemes and, where available, the projected value of pension rights or benefit level at the retirement age);
2. At the end of the project period:
   1. Provide access to individual pension information from at eats five to seven Member States (such as the current value of pension entitlements held in different schemes and, where available, the projected value of pension rights or benefit level at the retirement age).

The overall objective is to facilitate the access to pension information for mobile workers, self-employed and citizens. This action will contribute to the implementation of EPSR principles 12. Social protection and 15. Old age income and pensions and to facilitate freedom of movement.

The primary general objective of the action is to facilitate the pension awareness and overview at individual level for mobile workers and citizens. The secondary general objective is supporting the digitalisation of the national pension systems and secure their cross-border interoperability.

The specific objectives of the action are:

• to identify and apply appropriate digital solutions for identification and authentication of users, allowing to transfer the necessary pension data from national data holders to the cross-border tracking service;
• to set up the connectivity of NTSs as a prerequisite to access or collect individual pension information of mobile EU citizens;
• to implement and operate cross-border pension tracking services;
• to carry out further development of the service, including the connection of as many NTS and potential other stakeholders as possible.

Raising awareness of the initiative, mobilising the relevant stakeholders and creating broad interest and buy-in will be considered as another priority for this action.