The European Commission has recommended that Poland take steps to improve the sustainability of its pension system. Among the key recommendations are extending the effective working life of Poles and reducing the risk of poverty among retired women. Brussels stressed that the long-term stability of the system depends on these changes.
The Commission presented the spring package of the 2026 European Semester with guidelines for member states. The European Semester is the EU’s annual cycle of coordinating economic and social policies. In its country report on Poland, the Commission analysed economic and social developments and assessed the extent to which Poland had implemented the comprehensive set of recommendations adopted by the Council in 2025.
Poland has received clear instructions from Brussels on how to secure its pension system for future generations. The recommendations, part of the 2026 European Semester, focus on three main pillars: raising the effective retirement age, tackling pension poverty among women and the self-employed, and reforming special pension schemes.
Key demands from Brussels
The Commission will now ask the EU Council to discuss the spring package and adopt the proposed guidelines. As reported by PAP Biznes, the recommendations for Poland include measures to increase the adequacy and sustainability of the pension system. A Commission representative told PAP Biznes that it is important for Poland to take action to ensure the pension system remains robust.
– We are observing that over the last 20 years the ratio of the average pension to the average salary has been declining in Poland – pointed out the Commission representative. The official stressed that raising the effective retirement age is crucial to counteract this trend. The term 'effective retirement age’ refers to the actual age at which people stop working, which is currently lower than the statutory retirement age in many cases.
Women and the self-employed at risk
A significant part of the recommendations addresses the issue of pension poverty among women. The Commission noted that women in Poland are disproportionately affected by low pensions due to career breaks for childcare, part-time work, and lower lifetime earnings. The same applies to the self-employed, who often contribute less to the system.
– The problem of pension poverty among women and the self-employed must be solved – the Commission representative added. The EU also calls for reforming special pension schemes, which currently allow certain professional groups to retire earlier or receive higher benefits, putting additional strain on the public system.
What happens next
The Polish government will now have to respond to these recommendations. While the guidelines are not legally binding, they carry significant political weight and may influence future legislation. Poland’s current statutory retirement age is 60 for women and 65 for men, one of the lowest in the European Union. Any changes to these thresholds would require a major political decision and likely trigger public debate.
The Commission’s spring package also includes recommendations for other member states, but the Polish case has attracted particular attention due to the system’s declining replacement rate. According to the Commission, without reforms the ratio of pensions to wages will continue to fall, increasing the risk of old-age poverty.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. PAP/Marcin Obara
