Representatives from the Dutch Federation of Pension Funds (PensioenFederatie) and pension fund, ABP, entered into talks with informateurs, Elbert Dijkgraaf and Richard van Zwol, just before Easter, it has been revealed.

The informateurs, Dijkgraaf and Van Zwol, among others, are tasked with helping to negotiate the formation of the Dutch coalition cabinet following the general election in November 2023.

The talks, between the two informateurs and PensioenFederatie chairman, Ger Jaarsma, and ABP board chairman, Harmen van Wijnen, follow a letter sent by the five largest pension funds in the Netherlands last week – ABP, PMT, bpfBouw, PME, and PFZW – to the informateurs, calling for, among other things, the creation of a national investment institution to facilitate public-private partnerships (PPPs) to invest in the energy transition.

During the talks, Van Wijnen highlighted the request of the five biggest pension funds: “They would like to invest more in the energy transition. Pension funds can play an important role in the energy transition through cooperation with government agencies, including the realisation of heat and electricity networks, for example. But this requires more financing options and ambitious policies,” the PensioenFederatie stated in its release.

Furthermore, the PensioenFederatie said the talks were “in line” with a letter sent by the association to informateur, Kim Putters, in February 2024, which called on the incoming cabinet to grant pension funds space during the transition to the new Dutch pension system.

During the talks, Jaarsma emphasised the importance of rest and space for the pension sector to implement the new pension law with focus.

“This will allow working people and pensioners to transition smoothly and carefully to the renewed system from 2025. He also indicated that the system change should not go hand in hand with austerity and lower pensions. Precisely the high level of ambition in recent decades has resulted in a very valuable pension system that is among the best in the world,” the association noted.

---