Minister of Finance: The state must encourage saving for retirement. What Nazare says about the pensions of Romanians who worked in Europe
Alexandru Nazare, Minister of Finance / Photo: Inquam Photos / George Călin
The state must encourage people to save for retirement age, and that is why we supported the European Commission's project on occupational and pan-European pension products (PEPP) at the ECOFIN meeting, the Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, said on Tuesday.
“The future of Romanians' pensions and strategic investments in Romania, central themes today at ECOFIN. Today, at the meeting of Finance Ministers from the European Union (ECOFIN), I firmly supported a vision in which Romanians' savings are protected and function as a multiplier for the country's development: more money for the future of Romanians through European supplementary pensions. The state must encourage people to save for retirement age. That is why I supported the European Commission's project on occupational pension products and for pan-European ones (PEPP)”, the minister wrote on his Facebook page.
He emphasized that this means the introduction of an advantageous tax treatment for both occupational and pan-European pensions, similar to that offered in the case of contributions to national private pension funds, notes Agerpres.
“Thus, the money is multiplied by investing in strategic infrastructure or energy projects. It is a solution that benefits both the citizen (higher pension) and the country (capital for major projects, such as highways or hospitals),” explained Nazare.
He added that, at the same time, he supported a pan-European pension product that would be “portable”, that is, if a Romanian works in several EU countries, he could take his pension with him simply, without bureaucracy.
“However, we asked for a fair fiscal treatment: European products must not be favored at the expense of national ones, in order not to create imbalances”, stated the head of Finance.
Minister Alexandru Nazare had, on the sidelines of the meeting, a series of bilateral meetings with Finance Ministers from other European countries: Lars Klingbeil (Germany), Alena Schillerova (Czech Republic), Clyde Caruana (Malta).
“I have actively promoted, on this occasion as well, Romania's candidacy to host the headquarters of the European Customs Authority. Bucharest is ready to become a center of expertise for EU border security, especially thanks to the experience it already has by hosting the EU Cyber Center in Bucharest, and the support of our partners is very important. I will continue to promote at European level a strong Romania, with an economy based on investments and for institutions that really work at the service of the citizen”, the minister added Finances.
