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Dutch funding ratios rise again ahead of ‘make or break’ month for Wtp transition


By Callum Conway-Shaw

The average funding position of Dutch pension funds improved again in September, with the indicative funding ratio climbing to 127 per cent, according to Aon’s latest pension thermometer.

The indicative policy funding ratio also spiked, reaching 120 per cent, with both measures rising by one percentage point since August


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Iceland’s Birta defends ISK 1.7bn Fly Play loss as airline collapses

Iceland’s fourth largest pension fund, Birta Pension Fund, has defended its ISK 1.7bn investment loss in the Icelandic budget airline Fly Play, which entered into administration this week (29 September)
IVCA urges Irish govt to unlock pension capital for innovation

The Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA) has called on the government to use Budget 2026 to introduce measures that would mobilise pension and insurance capital to fund high-growth Irish companies, claiming they could unlock between €1 and €2bn of funding

Germany’s aba calls for IORPs to lead on SIU’s alternative investments push

The German occupational pensions association, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für betriebliche Altersversorgung (Aba), has argued that pension funds are best placed to drive the European Commission’s Savings and Investment Union (SIU) goal of expanding investment in alternatives but warned that regulatory constraints must also be recognised
European pension funds laying the groundwork for VC surge

European pension funds are laying the groundwork to become a more significant source of venture capital (VC) funding, according to a report from Venture Connections, European Women in VC and Pensions for Purpose, with Nordic pension funds the most active, despite growing momentum in the UK

Pension investors urge EU to stick with methane regulation amid potential reforms

A coalition of 42 international investors, representing around DKK 22,400bn in assets, has urged the European Union (EU) not to delay or weaken its newly adopted methane emissions regulation for the fossil fuel sector
Guest Comment: Belgian pensions in the balance

Better Finance director of communications, Arnaud Houdmont, discusses the reforms that he says could dramatically improve outcomes for Belgian pension savers, warning that whilst Belgium’s pension system is not broken, it is underperforming


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Bursting under the pressure

Belgium’s Arizona coalition is facing mounting pressure as it looks to push through sweeping pension reforms. Sandra Haurant explores whether the changes will bring more unrest than solutions

The digital tightrope

Although approaches to AI in pensions vary across Europe, the industry is grappling with the same challenge – how to harness the technology’s benefits while managing the risks associated with data, governance, and regulation. Paige Perrin reports

Europe’s pensions puzzle

Earlier this year, the EU’s auditors warned that EIOPA lacks the power to ensure

consistent supervision across member states. So how can EIOPA – and Europe’s other institutions – play a stronger role in shaping better pensions for citizens? David Adams reports

Guiding Irish pensions through change

From the rise of master trusts to the rollout of auto-enrolment, newly appointed CEO of the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF), Joyce Brennan, shares her vision for simplifying the system, supporting trustees, and securing better retirement outcomes for all

Communication: Hot or not

Callum Conway takes the temperature of Europe’s pensions industry, exploring which

approaches to member engagement are catching fire – and which risk leaving savers cold

Ask the industry

With pension fraud on the rise and becoming more sophisticated, European Pensions asks the industry what regulatory or industry-led measures should be prioritised to better protect schemes and savers – and which countries are leading the way in tackling pension-related fraud?

The safety net

Disability benefits act as a safety net across Europe, delivered through insurance, occupational pension funds or the state. But with rising retirement ages and a concerning mental health epidemic, calls for preventative solutions are growing. Natalie Tuck reports

In defence of returns

Sophie Smith takes a closer look at how retirement savings are being mobilised in

uncertain times, with recent geopolitical tensions sparking a shift in attitudes as security tops the agenda

Unlocking private potential

European pension funds are deepening their push into private markets, with a focus on mid-market buyouts and local opportunities. While digitalisation and ESG remain key themes, investors face growing pressure to conduct rigorous due diligence to manage risks. Lynn Strongin Dodds reports

Passing the parcel

Banks are shifting slices of loan risk to pension funds through significant risk transfer deals, offering schemes fresh diversification and returns, but also drawing regulatory scrutiny. Giovanni Legorano reports

Returns with responsibility

Finnish Church Pension Fund CIO, Ira van der Pals, speaks to Paige Perrin about how the fund’s strategy has evolved, its sustainability ambitions and the opportunities and challenges ahead

Reform in bloom?

Big changes are coming – slowly – to the Netherlands' celebrated pensions system, as demographics and economics have made reform necessary. David Adams reports on the challenges still to be overcome

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Podcast: Stepping up to the challenge
In the latest European Pensions podcast, Natalie Tuck talks to PensionsEurope chair, Jerry Moriarty, about his new role and the European pension policy agenda

Podcast: The benefits of private equity in pension fund portfolios
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, in which stock markets have seen increased volatility, combined with global low interest rates has led to alternative asset classes rising in popularity. Private equity is one of the top runners in this category, and for good reason.

In this podcast, Munich Private Equity Partners Managing Director, Christopher Bär, chats to European Pensions Editor, Natalie Tuck, about the benefits private equity investments can bring to pension fund portfolios and the best approach to take.

Mitigating risk
BNP Paribas Asset Management’s head of pension solutions, Julien Halfon, discusses equity hedging with Laura Blows

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