Sir,

With reference to your article today on the rising cost of EU pensions, any increases in the EU’s pensions bill are due to rising numbers of pensioners – an issue faced by all pension systems – and not to increased pensions for individuals. In addition, recent reform to the pension system has meant that the rate of increase to 2059 will be substantially less than it would have been without the reform (83% rather than 168%), saving billions of euros. Average pensions for EU officials will decline by 12.5% by 2059.

Jonathan Scheele
Head of European Commission Representation in the UK

The Evening Standard claims that EU officials demand rise in pay and pensions, 21 September

There is no planned increase in pensions – in fact, average EU civil servant pensions are declining. Recently, Eurostat prepared a report with projections for the future costs of the pensions system in the next half century. This report shows that a reform of the EU civil service introduced in 2004 will result in huge savings on pensions. Without it, the bill would have been a lot higher. Finally, the projections show an increase until 2046, followed by a decrease both in the number of pensioners and in the total bill.

EU PENSION GETS DODDERY DISSECTION

EU officials retire at 50… and you pay for it
TAXPAYERS in Britain are having to fund a new Brussels gravy train which will see unelected Eurocrats retiring on massive pensions at 50. Under the crazy plan they will be able to leave on 65 per cent of their salaries – or up to £6,000 a month. Those who hang on until they are 55 can retire on a full salary… Shadow Foreign Secretary Liam Fox said taxpayers would be “appalled” at having to pay for this “Euro gravy train”. As Britain puts more into the EU than it takes out, it will be one of the small number of nations having to bear the brunt of the scheme. Under a European statute, officials older than 45 on May 1, 2004, or those who have been in office 20 years can opt to take early retirement 50. …